Banking
Barclays offer free security software to mobile banking customers
Barclays has become the first UK bank to offer its mobile banking customers security software to download free of charge, covering anti-virus, anti spam and anti theft protection.
UK banks' credit losses may top £200bn, but manageable, says Ward
Simon Ward, economist at New Star: "The Bank of England has estimated that major high-street banks would sustain aggregate credit losses over five years of £115-130 billion in a "severe but plausible macroeconomic risk scenario.”
Alliance & Leicester £100 current account incentive still available
As the January window for Premier League football clubs to switch players draws to a close, research from Alliance & Leicester Current Accounts reveals two thirds (67 per cent) of UK banking customers have remained with the same current account provider for the last decade, despite competitive offers on the market.
Treasury calls for more to be done to ease flow of credit
In a Report today the Treasury Committee calls for the Government to do more to ease the flow of credit. The Committee's report on the 2008 Pre-Budget Report highlights the lack of bank lending as "the single most critical problem for the economy in the near term."
HSBC reunites thousands with millions in lost cash campaign
HSBC has reunited 3500 customers with more than £5.5 million since launching a national campaign to bring customers back together with forgotten savings and current accounts.
Lloyds Banking Group reuniting customers with dormant funds
Lloyds Banking Group has announced a proactive drive to locate customers with dormant funds in accounts across the UK. The proactive reunification activities, which will be funded by the Group, build on last year's reunification campaigns by both Halifax and Lloyds TSB.
Boom in bankruptcies predicted for 2009
Bankruptcies are predicted to go through the roof in the coming months as rock bottom equity levels in debtors’ homes means they are of little or no value to creditors, according to debt solution website IVA.com.
PayPal offers extra online security to UK customers
PayPal's customers in the UK can now opt for an extra layer of security to help keep them even safer online. The PayPal SMS Security Key texts a unique security code to the customer's mobile phone for them to use to log in to their account, in addition to their usual username and password.
Fraud on the increase
The analysis of fraud trends during 2008 by CIFAS - The UK's Fraud Prevention Service - reveals an unsettling 16% growth in fraud throughout the UK.
Is this the end of sterling?
With sterling hitting 23-year lows against the dollar and moving towards parity once again with the euro, it has not been a good week for the Great British pound.
Sterling in biggest freefall ever against dollar
Today has seen Sterling fall to its lowest against the US Dollar for 25 years – hitting $1.35 - and is set to plummet further by the close of markets today, according to foreign currency specialists FC Exchange.
Pound trades against Dollar at lowest levels since 1985
Commenting on the Pound's fall against the Dollar, Stephen Heath, Chief Executive of FairFX.com, said: "Sterling has continued to collapse against the Dollar falling to just $1.35 to £1 earlier today, its lowest rate since 1985.
FSA extends bank charges waiver again
Commenting on the FSA's announcement yesterday that it has extended the waiver on reclaiming bank charges for another six months while the High Court test case is still ongoing, James Caldwell, director at Fairinvestment.co.uk said:
MPs call for more transparency on bank nationalisations
The Treasury Sub-Committee today (23rd January) publishes its Report, Administration and expenditure of the Chancellor's departments 2007-08.
Sterling spiral speeds up against major currencies
We have seen Sterling flounder to its lowest this week against a raft of major currencies - hitting an 8-year low against the US Dollar at $1.38 and holding €1.06 against the Euro - and it’s not set to get any better, according to foreign currency specialists FC Exchange.