Rate alert: latest money deals examined Verdict: David Hollingworth, of London & Country mortgage brokers said Barclays was particularly competitive for those looking to borrow significant sums. It's offering a 2.99pc two-year fixed rate deal, for those borrowing a minimum of £500,000. However, this comes with a sizeable £1,999 application fee, and is limited to those borrowing just 60pc of their property's value. He added the "Great Escape" remortgage deal is also competitively priced. This is also a two-year fix, at 3.74pc, and will allow loans to value (LTVs) at 70pc. There are no valuation, application or legal fees to pay and those qualifying also get a £300 cash back. Mr Hollingworth added: "These changes show how complex the mortgage market is, with different rates at different LTV bands, and with different fees attached. But it's good to see a mainstream lender now offering more competitive deals. Online savings Many banks and building societies may be reducing the rates on their savings deals, but the Post Office is providing an alternative for beleaguered savers, with its new online savings account. This pays a market beating rate of 3.17pc and can be opened with just a minimum deposit of £1 and there are no restrictions on how many times a year you make withdrawals Verdict: This deal topples Coventry Building Society off the top slot in the best buys. Coventry BS paid just 3.15pc and only allowed four withdrawals a year. Due to the low opening balance it will appeal to many savers, although as it is an online account it will only be suitable to those who have internet access, and are happy to run their accounts online. The only downside is that savers should be aware this rate includes a hefty 1.52pc bonus payment, which will make the account far less competitive when the bonus disappear in 12 months' time. Such bonus payments are now commonplace on best buy deals so savers should ensure they make a note to switch at the end of this period. Kevin Mountford of Moneysupermarket.com said: "At a time when savings rates have started to fall, it is good to see the Post Office launching a market leading products, which bucks this recent trend." Nicer Isas The Post Office isn't the only one boosting returns on savings accounts. Virgin Money has relaunched its cash Isa - and now offers a one-year fixed-rate deal at 3.3pc. Unlike conventional savings the interest is paid is tax-free, making them particularly appealing to higher-rate taxpayers. This Virgin Money Isa can be opened with just a minimum balance of £1, and unusually for a best-buy Isa, it will also accept transfers in from existing Isa accounts - many of which will be paying negligible returns. However, savers should note that they have to give 60-days' notice of any withdrawals. Verdict: As with most best-buy accounts this is an online only account, so will only appeal to those with internet access. While it does not have any "bonus" payments attached, savers should note that this rate is only fixed for a year, so they should keep an eye on any rate movements beyond this date, to ensure they are still getting a competitive return. It is possible to get an equivalent rate on an Isa with Aldermore (which is also paying 3.3pc) but savers need a minimum of £1,000 to open this account. Savers should remember that the maximum that can be invested in any Isa this tax year is £5,640.