SOMEBODY IN Anglo Irish Bank has a strange sense of humour.

An Isle of Man-based arm of the bank is using the marketing slogan “Safeguard the future for everything you hold dear” as it seeks deposits from investors.

The ad campaign on the Daily Telegraphwebsite states that Anglo offers "award-winning expat banking".

Its “dedication to offering competitive offshore interest rates for expat and local savers” has resulted in it winning “some of the industry’s most prestigious offshore and expat awards”.

Hurrah. Are they worth €24 billion?

The gongs include “Best Offshore Account Provider” from Moneyfacts this year. Entries must have been thin on the ground, is all I can say.

To put the tin hat on it, Anglo highlights the Irish bank guarantee in its ads.

“The Minister for Finance in Ireland has stated that all customers of Anglo can be assured that the full amount of their deposits and savings are further safeguarded by nationalisation,” it says.

Don’t remind me.