Virgin's tried and tested investment approach

• At Virgin Money we only invest in the highest-rated bonds with top UK and European companies, plus a wide range of gilts which we benchmark against the FT-A British Government 5-15 year stock index.
• When investments fall below the high benchmarks we set, they're replaced.            

Some ISA managers may sail close to the wind by investing in higher-risk bonds (nicknamed 'junk bonds') which pay inflated levels of interest to make them more attractive to investors. Don't be fooled. ISAs offering apparently exceptional returns will by definition be taking more chances with your money. If the companies they invest in go bust, their bonds could be worthless.

Where your money will be invested

To get the right balance between security and return, we split your money and invest half in gilts that track the FT-A British Government 5-15 year stock index, and spread the other half across corporate bonds issued by leading UK and European companies.

As at 1 December 2009 we were invested in corporate bonds from the following companies: