£120k to save no risks.

Barnsley

Need £20k easy access. Where get best rate for £100k? Don't want to risk more than £35K per bank/institution, and can invest for 12 months or so. Will consider oddshore if safe. (Why so cautious? I was a runner with Northern Rock)!

missile

You may find saving with NR is safer than most other institutions. It seems almost inconcievable that the government would let them collapse now?

deaglecat

Safety and high rates may be mutually exclusive. The high rates may reflect difficulties in borrowing in the wholesale financial markets.

If you want no risk then I think NS&I index linked certs are a good bet. Premium bonds also.

I don't totally trust the £35k guarantee because it is funded by industry levy and in large scale banking problems there is a risk that it may not pay out.