And like a bank account, you can always see at a glance what you've got in your account and what it's worth, so it's an easy way to manage your shares too. Your account's not just about buying and selling shares, it also provides a safe, secure home for your investments that takes care of the administrative hassle that can come with owning investments.

With your Share Account you get:

• an easy way to buy and sell a wide range of stock market investments

  At The Share Centre you can buy and sell all manner of stock market investments, such as shares, unit trusts, investment trusts and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). You can also use it to invest in UK Gilts and Bonds and even Covered Warrants. And you can venture outside the UK investment markets too, with the ability to buy and sell shares in companies listed in other countries so long as they are settled in £sterling through the CREST system. So companies like Nokia, BMW, Coca Cola, Daimler Chrysler, IBM, Microsoft, Novartis and Wal-Mart are all easily within your reach.

  Of course, different types of investments bring different risks, and not all types of investments will be suitable for every investor. But all stock market investments can go up and down in price, as can their value and you may get back less than your initial investment. For many investments, the income they give you will vary too, although this won't be the case with fixed interest investments like some Bonds or Gilts. And for overseas shares you'll have to take into account currency changes too.

  Getting the balance right depends on your aims and attitude to risk and we're here to help you do that with free advice and support.

• a safe, secure and accessible home for your investments

  You'll never have to worry about losing track of your shares, or risk losing your paper certificates. You can check out your investments online 24/7 and we'll send you a six monthly statement detailing your investments and activity over the previous period. And you don't have to worry about lots of paperwork, because we take care of much of it for you. When something happens that can have an effect on your shares, such as a take-over or merger, we'll let you know, take your instructions and carry them out. That way you stay in touch and in control but without having to spend lots of time in doing so.

  It's important when choosing any investment service to ensure it's right for you. We're on hand to answer any questions you may have and, if you're still not sure whether its suitable, we'd always recommend you seek independent advice.

• helpful advice from our plain speaking experts

  We believe in sharing our knowledge and experience in the stock market with you, by giving you practical advice to help you choose the investments that are right for you, and in making that advice available free of charge.

  Throughout this website you'll find information to help you make better investment decisions. And our plain-speaking experts are on hand via the AdviceLine to answer your questions, and advise you on UK shares. Plus there's The Shareholder, our regular magazine packed with news, information, ideas and tips.

• fair value and choice

  We believe in fair value, giving you good service at a fair price. We don't ask you to deal frequently or set minimum investment amounts and how often you deal is entirely up to you.

  What you pay to buy or sell investments depends on the value of that transaction. But if you are expecting to trade quite actively you might want to choose the Trader option, where you pay a fixed amount for each transaction instead. Use our handy Dealing charges calculator to help you pick the one that suits you best, and if you later find you want to switch, that's easy to do.

  You'll find full details by clicking on 'Options', and all our charges are clearly set out under the 'costs' tab.

  You'll find more information about how your Share Account works and what is costs by clicking on the tabs above.

Applying is easy – once you've decided the account is suitable for you just print your application form or request an application pack. And if you've any questions we're here to help: email us or call 0800 800 008 from 08:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.