Personal Finance: Loose Change

TU FUND Managers is waiving initial charges on lump sum investments into its European and British PEPs. This also applies to transfers from other PEPs. Call 0800 435 810.

LEGAL & GENERAL, the insurer, is offering a 2 per cent discount for six months on variable rates paid on its Flexible Reserve mortgages. New customers will pay 4.8 per cent. The current variable rate is 6.8 per cent. Call 0870 0100338.

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER is giving away mini-FM radios to customers who open a Cashcard account. The deal is open to young people aged between 11 and 17. Details from any A&L branch.

MARTIN CURRIE, fund managers, is launching an offshore fund investing in Japan, taking advantage of that country's perceived recovery. The fund has an initial charge of 5 per cent. Minimum investment is $5,000. Call 0808 1002125.

EXETER FUND Managers is offering 1 per cent on investments into its Monthly Income and Growth Portfolio funds, held in the company's Chameleon PEP. Both funds invest in a range of Exeter investment trusts. Call 0800 807807.

ABERDEEN PROLIFIC is offering a 1 to 1.5 per cent discount to investors who invest up to the maximum for its final PEPs and its new Individual Savings Accounts. The offer will give a 1.5 per cent discount for a pounds 6,000 investment, and 1 per cent for a subsequent pounds 7,000 investment into an Aberdeen Prolific ISA. The company offers a 0.75 per cent discount on ISAs for investors into its PEPs. Initial charges are 4.25 per cent. Call 0345 886 666.

HALIFAX IS offering discounts for existing customers who take out one of its loans. For those with a Halifax mortgage, whose salary is paid into one of the bank's accounts, rates are 12.9 per cent APR. For customers of less than six months' standing, rates are 17.9 per cent.

JOHN CHARCOL, mortgage brokers, is offering a fixed mortgage at 5.89 per cent until March 2001. It carries no redemption penalties and has an arrangement fee of pounds 300. Call 0800 718191.