Written notification has gone out to the 220,000 members of the First National Building Society who are to qualify for 450 free shares when the society is listed on the Dublin and London stock exchanges next autumn.

For information telephone FNBS helpline on 1850 818181.

To be a qualifying savings member you must have held an investment share account continuously in your own name or as the first name holder, from April 8th, 1996 to May 18th, 1998 when the society holds its a.g.m. You need to have had a balance of at least £100 in aggregate in such accounts on July 1st, 1997, and the balance must not have fallen below £100 between July 1st, 1997, and May 18th, 1998. You also need to be resident in the permitted territories, expected to be Ireland, Britain, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, France, Belgium, Spain, Germany, Italy, Australia.

To qualify as a borrowing member you need to have held a housing loan on April 8th, 1996 and owed an outstanding balance of at least £500 on December 31st, 1997, and on the date of the a.g.m. May 18th, 1998. Members who hold non-qualifying accounts or do not meet the residency requirements can expect a cash bonus of up to £200.

Anyone with both an investment and loan account will be entitled to 900 free shares (450 x 2), which are expected to be worth at least £2.60 each. A single allotment of shares will be worth at least £1,170; a double set, £2,340.

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