It's safer than putting it under the mattress but not as safe as using a mainstream UK high street bank or building society.

Generally, offshore is more risky than UK high street and the Channel Islands are more risky than the Isle of Man, in my view.

I am coming to the end of a 3 month period of off-shore investment of savings in Anglo Irish and am questioning whether it is 'safe' to renew this for another 3 month period in their Fixed Interest Account - particularly given that the bank is now nationalised and people are talking of Ireland possibly going the same way as Iceland! Should I spread the money elsewhere - inlcuding onshore again, or is Anglo Irish safe? I an a UK national but reside in Brussels so I cannot open another bank account in the UK. My existing UK account is with Barclays and my husband's is with HSBC. I would appreciate your advice soonest. Thank you.