Banking News
Monmouthshire named ‘Best Regional Building Society’
Monmouthshire Building Society, one of Wales’ largest and most successful financial institutions, has won the prestigious ‘Best Regional Building Society’ award at the Mortgage Finance Gazette Awards in London.
Co-operative Bank expands charity operation
The Co-operative Bank has reinforced its commitment to the voluntary sector by expanding its specialist charity and social enterprise operation.
Bank rate held – QE2 yet to sail
Ray Boulger of leading independent mortgage adviser John Charcol comments on the news that the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has left Bank Rate unchanged for the 20th consecutive month and is also leaving its Quantitative Easing programme unchanged at £200bn.
UK interest rates remain at 0.5 per cent
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain interest rates at 0.5%.
HSBC Bank launches new discretionary management service
HSBC Bank this week launches its Premier Investment Management Service; a new discretionary investment management service designed to meet a variety of customer risk appetites and objectives.
Principality continues expansion plan
Wales' largest building society, Principality has announced plans to open its 52nd Principality branch at 1 Monnow Street in Monmouth, creating six new jobs in the area.
Alliance & Leicester rebrands to Santander
Santander has started the rebrand of its Alliance & Leicester branches. The first Alliance & Leicester branch to be renamed Santander, is the Horsefair branch in Leicester City Centre.
'Bank of Friends' lends over £7bn in last 12 months
The effects of the recession have caused a new type of lending to emerge, as people turn to the 'Bank of Friends' to borrow over £7 billion to cover the gaps in their income according to new research from the Post Office.
Fivers - back on track
Following a successful pilot exercise undertaken by HSBC last year, major financial institutions and ATM operators are increasing the number of ATMs that dispense £5 notes.
Tesco Bank to create 200 new jobs in Glasgow
Tesco Bank has signed a five year agreement with Vertex, a leading global provider of Customer Management Outsourcing, to support its planned entry into the mortgage market in early summer 2011.
UK interest rates remain on hold at 0.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee has voted to hold interest rates at 0.5% for the 19th consecutive month.
Barclays takes to park benches to talk mobile banking
This week Barclays bank managers will swap their seat in a branch for a seat under a branch as they take to park benches for a series of Barclays mobile banking clinics.
Card, cheque and online banking fraud figures fall
Banking industry initiatives are successfully driving fraud away from customers' cards and bank accounts, according to new figures.
first direct launches Beta Lab scheme
first direct has announced a unique banking initiative that will give customers and members of the public a chance to have their say on how new products and services are developed, and the opportunity to give feedback prior to launch.
Pick up a Penguin book at a Northern Rock branch
Visitors to participating Northern Rock branches will be able to loan a Penguin book from a range of classic titles on display.