A couple of years ago it was possible to pay a lump-sum into your bond account, and to specify that it had to be used to reduce the capital balance of the loan, and not to expunge interest.

Is this still the case? Because if so, the banks are keeping it under wraps because of all the compound interest they score.

The point is this: In essence you have taken out two loans - one for the capital amount, and one for the interest (surprisingly similar figures over 20 years too - sarcasm is mine). If that is 'true', then surely you as consumer can decide which of these 'two' to pay off with additional funds at your disposal, not so?

And please don't tell me to contact my bank (Std Bank). We are not really on speaking terms at the moment. (I actually did contact them, and they feign ignorance, I feigned fainting).