The best new savings and mortgage deals Although less well known than some of the high street banks, FirstSave is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme for deposits up to £85,000. To apply go to firstsave.co.uk. Verdict Two top-paying bonds is not bad from FirstSave. Andrew Hagger from Moneynet.co.uk said: "It's good to see another provider pushing its peers and keeping rates buoyant - this time last year the best one-year rate was 3.25pc and best two-year rate 3.65pc, so the renewed competition for retail savings has pushed rates up by 0.35 percentage points. Fifteen months ago it was a struggle to achieve 3pc on a one-year fixed bond, so the picture has improved significantly for savers since the low point in the autumn of 2010. Leeds' leading tracker Leeds Building Society has launched a two-year tracker mortgage aimed at first-time buyers. Requiring a deposit of just 5pc, the home loan charges the mutual's standard variable rate (SVR), currently 5.69pc, minus 0.44 percentage points. After the two-year term is up, you will be charged the SVR. Those home buyers with a more substantial deposit get a better discount off the SVR. If you have a 10pc deposit, you will be charged 4.35pc at the current SVR, and those with a 20pc deposit will be charged 3pc. For more information and to apply, go to leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk/mortgages or call 08452 344048. Verdict While it is good news for first-time buyers that there are more 5pc deposit mortgages on the market, a rate of 5.25pc is not competitive. First-time buyers should instead try to raise more funds and opt for HSBC's two-year tracker charging 3.84pc for those with a 10pc deposit. Postal saving Good news for savers not yet online - Leeds Building Society has launched an instant-access postal savings account paying 3.01pc. There are no penalties for withdrawals and the account can be opened with a minimum deposit of £5,000. To apply online, go to leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk or to request a postal form, call 08450 505075. Though the account can be opened online, it can only be operated by post. Verdict This instant-access saver is beaten only by Santander's online-only offering, which pays 3.1pc. Those who prefer to operate their savings offline should snap up the Leeds account while they can. Cashback upgrade American Express is upgrading its Platinum cashback credit card, giving users the chance to get 5pc cashback on their purchases instead of the current rate of 2.5pc. Amex is also relaxing the entry requirements for the card, meaning those with an annual salary of £20,000 instead of £30,000 can apply. If you spend £10,000 on the card in a 12-month period, in the 13th month you will receive double cashback. The card carries an interest rate of 18.5pc and there is annual fee of £25 to use the card. To apply, go to americanexpress.com/uk. Verdict This is the market-leading cashback offer - 5pc topples Tesco and Santander - but it only lasts three months. After that, it reverts to 2.5pc. There is a cashback cap of £100, too. Make sure you can afford to pay off the balance in full each month, or risk accruing interest on your debts.