The National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) has said that new issues of savings certificates, savings bonds, and instalment savings will be available for purchase next Wednesday.

The new savings certificates offer a guaranteed return of 16 per cent tax free after a period of five years and six months. This represents an average rate of interest of 2.74 per cent per annum if the investment is held for the full term. The current savings certificates have an interest rate in excess of 4 per cent.

The new savings bonds offer a guaranteed return of 8 per cent tax free after a period of three years. This represents an average rate of interest of 2.6 per cent a year.