Exhibit 18


            THE TRAVELERS QUALITY BOND ACCOUNT FOR VARIABLE ANNUITIES


                                POWER OF ATTORNEY


         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:


         That I, KATHLEEN A. PRESTON of South Windsor, Connecticut, a Director
of The Travelers Insurance Company (hereafter the "Company"), do hereby make,
constitute and appoint ERNEST J. WRIGHT, Secretary of said Company, and KATHLEEN
A. McGAH, Assistant Secretary of said Company, or either one of them acting
alone, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact, for me, and in my name, place and
stead, to sign registration statements on behalf of said Company on Form N-3 or
other appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment
Company Act of 1940 for The Travelers Quality Bond Account for Variable
Annuities, a separate account of the Company dedicated specifically to the
funding of variable annuity contracts to be offered by said Company, and
further, to sign any and all amendments thereto, including post-effective
amendments, that may be filed by the Company on behalf of said registrant.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of March,
2002.


                                           /s/ Kathleen A. Preston
                                           Director
                                           The Travelers Insurance Company