Banking

Cash flow concerns grow for UK firms as late payments bite

Nearly a third (29 per cent) of small and medium sized companies (SMEs) reported cash flow problems in the second half of 2008, with 70 per cent citing late payment of invoices as the primary factor, according to research by Lloyds TSB Commercial.

Conundrum between quantitative easing and a zero interest rates

Sam Hill, Fixed Interest Fund Manager at Threadneedle, examines the conundrum between quantitative easing and a zero interest rates: "The economic textbooks say that you can control the price of money or the quantity of money but not both.

Lloyds TSB reiterates pledge to cut rates for small businesses

Lloyds TSB pledged today to pass on, in full, any base rate cut announced this week, to all its small business customers with variable rate loans and overdrafts.

Barclays launches new initiative to help UK businesses

Barclays Commercial Bank today launches a new initiative to assist its 81,000 business clients in battling recession.

Don’t get hooked by bank phishing scams

The UK suffered the greatest number of phishing attacks globally last year as criminals used UK banks as bait for unwary consumers.

Yorkshire delivers a solid performance in another turbulent year

Yorkshire Building Society has delivered another solid performance and remains one of the UK's strongest savings institutions in a year of unprecedented turmoil in the financial markets.

Nationwide International announces new savings rates

Nationwide International, the offshore subsidiary of Nationwide Building Society, has announced details of new rates on its Sterling savings accounts following the 0.50% decrease to the Bank of England Base Rate.

Further interest rate cut would be bad news says BSA

A Bank of England decision to cut interest rates again this week would be bad news for almost everyone connected to the savings and mortgage markets, according to the Building Societies Association (BSA).

first direct receives Carbon Trust Standard

first direct has become the first bank to receive the Carbon Trust Standard after reducing its carbon emissions by over 14% which equates to an annual reduction of 1500 tonnes of CO2 from 2007 levels.

How honest are we? Not very, says new survey

Here's a test of your honesty. What would you do if you found £100 in the street? Would you hand it in to Police, give it to charity, spend it on yourself? Well, almost half of us would keep the £100 for ourselves if we found it on the street today - and over half of us would feel no guilt at pocketing the money.

The Nottingham delivers robust 2008 financial performance

The Nottingham has reported an operating profit of £4.2 million for the 2008 financial year - and a 4% growth in savings balances, despite the unprecedented turbulence that has beset the UK economy.

Alliance & Leicester extends commitment to small businesses

Alliance & Leicester Commercial Bank has announced that it plans to increase its total lending to small business customers by over a quarter in 2009. This follows record lending from the bank in 2008, which saw total small business lending balances increase by 49 per cent.