Variable accounts could guarantee you a better return

With many banks slashing interest rates saving isn't an attractive prospect at the moment.

There is though no sign of the base rate being cut so it's worth looking out for saving accounts which link to this.

The rates they offer may not be as high as some other accounts but variable accounts with a guarantee mean you can be confident about your interest rate.

Guaranteed variable savings accounts

Yorkshire BS E-saver: 4% Egg Internet: 4% C & G Tracker: 3.85% Saga Secure savings: 3.75% Source: Chase de Vere

The Yorkshire Building Society E-saver account pays 4% and that rate will move with base rate.

Internet bank Egg also pays 4% and guarantees that this will stay with base rate until the end of 2007.

Cheltenham & Gloucester's Tracker account pays a little less at 3.85%.

They guarantee their rate will be no lower that 0.25% below the base rate until the 1st January 2004.

If you're over 50 Saga offers a 'Secure savings' account which pays 3.75%. It guarantees to pay 0.25% below the base rate.

Be careful to check the life of these accounts. As in our examples, some have no end date but others will have a specified fixed term.