Banking
Alliance & Leicester Business Bank launches 6% current account
Alliance & Leicester Business Bank has launched an improved current account offer for small businesses with a turnover of up to £1 million.
Banks impose increases on overseas money transfer charges
The cost of sending money overseas is soaring as banks impose huge increases in the fixed transfer fees they levy on each transaction, making the charges as high as 40% on small sums, according to leading foreign exchange broker, Caxton FX.
Organisational changes at Lloyds Banking Group
Commenting on the announced organisational changes at Lloyds Banking Group, Louise Cuming, head of mortgages at moneysupermarket.com says: "There was always going to be a major reorganisation at Lloyds Banking Group following the merger of Lloyds TSB and HBOS and the first phase in that process is now clear.
Gap in financial help for over 50s
A Citizens Advice pilot project which has seen Independent Financial Advisers (IFA) give their time pro-bono in bureaux to advise CAB clients on their financial concerns, has exposed a gap in the availability of impartial help for people who can't afford to pay for advice on their mortgages, pensions or investments.
FSCS leaves charities unclear about protection of banked deposits
A survey of 280 charities by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) reveals that only a quarter (25%) are certain they know how much of their funds are protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) should their bank fail.
Alliance & Leicester launches new 12 month Business Bond
Alliance & Leicester Business Banking has launched a new limited edition 12 month Fixed Rate Business Bond, available to businesses with a turnover of up to £1 million. The new bond has a great fixed interest rate of 3.20 per cent gross pa/AER and matures on 1 July 2010.
Money saving tips for Lions fans heading to South Africa
Rugby fans following the British Lions on their tour of South Africa will find that their money goes a lot further than in the UK, according to travel money expert M&S Money.
HSBC cuts Bank Account Plus credit interest rate
In response to HSBC's 2% AER reduction to the Bank Account Plus in-credit interest rate, Louise Bond, personal finance manager at uSwitch.com, comments:
HSBC wins 'Responsible Lender of the Year' award
HSBC has been named the UK retail banking industry's most responsible lender at the 2009 Credit Today awards.
Santander increases current account credit interest rates
Santander's UK current account brands, Abbey and Alliance & Leicester, are once again challenging the current account market by bucking the trend and increasing the credit interest rate to 6.00% AER on their already popular high interest accounts.
Abbey launches new summer offers for small businesses
Abbey Business is to launch a range of market leading products for small businesses with a turnover of up to £1 million. The new range includes an improved bank account offer, providing market leading in-credit interest of 6.00 per cent gross/AER, fixed for the first year, on balances up to £2,500.
The Co-operative launches international development fund
The Co-operative Bank has unveiled an innovative new global $50m co-operative development fund aimed at helping to alleviate poverty in some of the world's poorest communities.
Sterling shows its vulnerable side amid political uncertainty
Sterling held steady after the Bank of England conformed to market expectations and announced their decision to keep interest rates unchanged at 0.5% this lunchtime.
We are not out of the woods yet
The Bank of England has kept interest rates on hold. It has also left its target for Quantitative Easing unchanged. Neither decision was unexpected following news that lending by banks to businesses dipped in April while lending to individuals rose slightly.
UK interest rates held at 0.5%
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee today voted to maintain interest rates at 0.5%.