Abbey suggests that the new product could give growth oriented investors a potential 28% return after just 3 ½ years, plus the full return of their original capital invested. Returns are paid gross, with no tax deducted.

The Abbey International Capital Guaranteed Dual Option Account - Issue 1 runs for 3 ½ years, with total returns linked to the performance of the UK FTSE 100 Index.

Stock market linked capital protected products are a relatively new type of account in the offshore market. Onshore, they have been popular with savers who wanted the potential of a higher return than is available with mainstream deposit accounts, together with total protection of their original capital.

Jane Matthews, Head of Marketing & Business Development at Abbey International announced that:

“Many investors will want to have part of their portfolio exposed to shares, to lock in the higher returns which history suggests are possible from long term equity growth. However, investors also want to try and limit the risk their hard earned capital is exposed to. We have therefore designed this account to give the possibility of a high level of growth and at the same time guarantee the safety of the original capital.”

Investors will receive the full 28% growth, providing the FTSE 100 Index has not fallen from its level when the product commences on 14 March 2008. If on maturity the Index finishes below its closing level on 14 March 2008, investors will still receive their full initial capital repayment, according to Abbey.