Hi A

1.6 for 10 year is good!! Well done, I settled at 1.8 a few months back...

To obtain a loan from an insurance company you need to tick all the correct boxes and they are more competiive on the long term loans (10 years) than banks for fixed rate loans. These are pension monies (yours and mine) so they have to be invested very cautiously and under tighter rules than the banks (remember the subprime scenario?)

The banks can take a bit more risk (they have not quite learned the lesson) and will also loan to those not quite 100% suited...

But think you 1.6% rate so far is really splendid!