Cruise operator and former rock singer Jimmy O'Connor has opened his $20,000 money market fund at Butterfield Bank, which he won after being judged the "Best of the Best" at the Visitor Industry Partnership Excellence Awards.

To win the award he had to beat 440 other nominees. Of those 55 made it to the awards final at the Fairmont Southampton where Mr. O'Connor won the "Activities and Attractions" category and then went on to win the Bermuda Hospitality Industry's "Best of the Best."

The awards were sponsored by Bermuda Electric Light Company and supported by Bermuda Department of Tourism and the top prize was a money market account through Butterfield Asset Management Limited.

After opening his account Mr. O'Connor was treated to a luncheon at head office with Alan Thompson, Butterfield Bank president and chief executive officer and other special guests.

Mr. Thompson said: "It has been our pleasure to donate a $20,000 investment in the Butterfield Money Market Fund to Bermuda's 'Best of the Best' since the VIP Awards began seven years ago. We are pleased to support Bermuda tourism and help recognise excellence among those working in the industry. It is part of the focus on community that is at the heart of the culture of Butterfield Bank."

The bank's money market fund has a AAAm rating from Standard and Poor's and is available in four currencies; American and Canadian dollars, Euros and British Sterling. It features daily liquidity, the ability to receive and send wires, deposit

cheques and drafts directly, internet banking access, with only a minimum initial investment requirement of $10,000. The seven-day yield for the USD Class (at March 29) is 4.9%

Alistair Border, a portfolio manager of the money market fund received a top manager award from industry publication iMoneyNet in January.