Safe from civil disruption ?
Safe from terrorist attack ?
Safe from government defaulting on debt ?
Safe from bank collapse ?
Safe from disclosure ?
For EUR deposits, in Serbia the annual interest is up to 9%, what's more the gov't there waived the tax on it until 31.12.2009 at least (there is a number of 6 month deposits earning >8% pa, and many of the banks are EU headquartered) http://www.kamatica.com/stanovnistvo-devizna-stednja
Joody1,
You can open one in Ireland. Not in all but in a few. I have a friend who lives in the U.S. who has an account in a couple of banks here. I also know an English resident with an account here. To mention a few, Bank of Ireland, Bank of Scotland Ireland and First Active who are part of HBOS allow you to open an account.
Ring around or drop a few of them an email.
An Institution offering an Interest rate of 9% in the current climate must be classed as risky. Furthermore for the OP, all interest earned overseas is Taxed at the higher rate. It is for all the reasons you mentioned is to why the Government chose to guarantee all Irish Bank's deposits.
You do realise that you're are required to pay DIRT on interest earned, regardless of where it's earned?For EUR deposits, in Serbia the annual interest is up to 9%, what's more the gov't there waived the tax on it until 31.12.2009 at least (there is a number of 6 month deposits earning >8% pa, and many of the banks are EU headquartered) http://www.kamatica.com/stanovnistvo-devizna-stednja