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Banking


  • The future of banking is here
    Richard Baker
    18.11.09
    Internet banking was once at the cutting edge of financial technology but may soon be surpassed in popularity by mobile banking and contactless payments, as Richard Baker discovers.
  • Is the banking crisis really over?
    Sam Barrett
    19.10.09
    As we continue to feel the fallout of the financial crisis, Sam Barrett surveys the banking landscape and asks what the future has in store.
  • Don't let banks take you for a ride
    Helen Pridham
    24.09.09
    Competition among financial providers has rocketed over the past 30 years, but most people are missing out. Helen Pridham explains why it pays to ensure your providers don't take you for a ride.
  • Banks back down over overdraft fees
    Rebecca Atkinson
    08.09.09
    NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland have broken ranks with their banking peers by cutting the charges levied on customers who go overdrawn without permission.
  • Lloyds reviews C&G decision
    Rebecca Atkinson
    20.08.09
    Cheltenham & Gloucester may live to see another day on the high street after Lloyds Banking Group said it was rethinking plans to close the 164-strong branch network.
  • Fraud victims refused reimbursement
    Rebecca Atkinson
    25.06.09
    One in five victims of identity theft fails to get all of their lost money back from their bank - find out how you can protect yourself from falling foul of fraudsters.
  • Overdraft charges battle goes to the Lords
    Rebecca Atkinson
    23.06.09
    Victims of bank charges may find out if they can claim back their money this week, as the long-running test case into overdraft charges is heard by the House of Lords.
  • Write-off debt claims 'misleading'
    Rebecca Atkinson
    18.06.09
    An advert by a claims management company that purported it was able to write-off borrowers' debt has been banned by the advertising watchdog for being misleading.
  • Abbey launches 6% current account
    Rebecca Atkinson
    08.06.09
    Abbey and Alliance & Leicester have increased the interest rates on their current account offerings to 6% AER.
  • Know your debt rights
    Rebecca Atkinson
    05.06.09
    Whether you're concerned about repossession, the bailiffs calling or your loved ones inheriting your debt, struggling to cope with debt can be a terrible experience. So make sure you know your rights.
  • What impact will deflation have on your finances?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    19.05.09
    The cost of living in the UK is at its lowest level since records began in 1948. Sounds like a good thing? Read on, because experts say there will be deflationary losers, as well as winners.
  • Where next for interest rates?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    09.04.09
    The BoE has ended its six-month long base rate onslaught, with the official interest rate frozen in April at 0.5%. But what next for rates - will stay frozen, fall further or rise?
  • Analysis: B&B 2008 accounts and report
    Jim Moore
    31.03.09
    Jim Moore takes an extensive look at Bradford & Bingley's 2008 reports which show nationalisation prevented huge losses for the year.
  • More protection for savers
    Rebecca Atkinson
    31.03.09
    The FSA is looking into extending the compensation scheme for people with savings exceeding £50,000 if a UK bank collapses.
  • How safe are building societies?
    Emma Lunn
    30.03.09
    The near collapse of Dunfermline building society has left a question mark over the perceived soundness of building societies, which have long had a reputation for being safer than banks.
  • What next for Dunfermline customers?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    30.03.09
    The news that Nationwide is to take over the Dunfermline Building Society won't be a massive shock for Scotland's largest mutual's customers.
  • HSBC to cut 1,200 UK jobs
    Chris Thomas
    25.03.09
    Banking giant HSBC is set to trim 1,200 from its UK workforce, it said on Wednesday.
  • Deflation - will you win or lose out?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    24.03.09
    The UK is on the verge of entering a period of deflation, where prices fall rather than rise. Sounds like a good thing? Read on, because experts say there will be deflationary losers, as well as winners.
  • Inflation hits zero
    Rebecca Atkinson
    24.03.09
    Inflation, or the cost of living, fell to 0% in February, potentially paving the way for the UK to enter a period of deflation, where prices actually fall rather than rise.
  • BoE launches quantitative easing
    Rhian Nicholson
    11.03.09
    Efforts to get the economy back on track stepped up a gear today with the launch of the Bank of England's radical quantitative easing plans.
  • Is printing more money the answer?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    03.03.09
    With the interest rate rapidly approaching zero, the chancellor is this week expected to give the Bank of England permission to print more money in an effort to revive the economy.
  • The best current accounts for the over 50s
    Nathalie Bonney
    03.03.09
    Do you feel like it's been impossible to find a good current account as you get older? Nathalie Bonney shows how you can still find a competitive deal.
  • Is this the end of free banking?
    Liam Tarry
    26.02.09
    The Court of Appeal has quashed banks' appeal against its earlier ruling on unauthorised overdraft fees. What does this mean for bank charge victims and the future of free banking in the UK?
  • Why are taxpayers footing the bill for banks' losses?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    26.02.09
    The Treasury is to help banks weather the financial crisis by insuring them against future losses caused by toxic debt. But what benefit will taxpayers receive for footing the bill for banks' losses?
  • Inflation hits kids' cash savings
    Rebecca Atkinson
    24.02.09
    Children's savings are being eroded because Child Trust Fund (CTF) vouchers fail to keep up with inflation, parents have been warned.
  • RBS and Rock to unveil business revamps
    Rhian Nicholson
    23.02.09
    Beleaguered banks Royal Bank of Scotland and Northern Rock are set to reveal radical revamps of their business models to get their operations back into the black.
  • Inflation falls to 3%
    Liam Tarry and Rhian Nicholson
    17.02.09
    Growth in the cost of living fell to 3% in January, sparking fears that the UK is sailing close to deflation.
  • Savers abandon cash ISAs
    Rebecca Atkinson
    16.02.09
    An estimated 4.3 million savers plan to withdraw their tax-free savings from their ISAs this year, potentially gifting the taxman £39 million in extra revenue as a result.
  • Rock shareholders lose High Court battle
    Rhian Nicholson
    13.02.09
    Former shareholders in Northern Rock have been left heavily out of pocket after losing their High Court battle against the Government's proposed compensation scheme.
  • Barclays and Lloyds in bonus furore
    Rhian Nicholson
    06.02.09
    Barclays and Lloyds are poised to follow the lead of RBS in paying bankers and traders hundreds of millions of pounds in bonuses despite their precarious financial positions.
  • Interest rates set for record low
    Rhian Nicholson
    04.02.09
    Interest rates are set to reach another historic low on Thursday when the Monetary Policy Committee announces the outcome of its latest meeting.
  • RBS chief stands down early
    Rhian Nicholson
    03.02.09
    The chairman of troubled banking giant Royal Bank of Scotland, Sir Tom McKillop stepped down two months ahead of schedule today.
  • Banks in PPI ban
    Rebecca Atkinson
    29.01.09
    Banks are likely to be forbidden from selling PPI alongside loans and credit cards, following an investigation by the Competition Commission.
  • Barclays moves to reassure investors
    Rhian Nicholson
    26.01.09
    Efforts from banking giant Barclays to reassure investors over its financial health provided a much needed boost to its share price on Monday.
  • SFO urged to investigate RBS "fraud"
    Chris Thomas
    26.01.09
    An investigation into the Royal Bank of Scotland's £12 billion rights issue has come a step nearer following complaints by members of the Scottish Parliament.
  • Barclays shares hit 24-year low
    Rhian Nicholson
    21.01.09
    Barclays shareholders were nursing heavy losses on Wednesday, after shares in the beleaguered bank plunged to their lowest level for 24 years.
  • Banks battered by RBS fears
    Rhian Nicholson
    20.01.09
    The turbulence continued in the financial sector today, amid fears that the likes of Barclays and Lloyds could have to go cap in hand to the Government once more.
  • Banks thrown fresh £300bn lifeline
    Rhian Nicholson
    19.01.09
    Banks have been thrown a fresh £300 billion lifeline from the Government in a desperate bid to get them lending to businesses and consumers again.
  • Barclays fails to recover lost ground
    Rhian Nicholson
    19.01.09
    Barclays' bid to reassure investors over its profit expectations failed to recover the ground lost in Friday's dramatic share price fall.
  • RBS shares plummet 70%
    Rhian Nicholson
    19.01.09
    Shares in Royal Bank of Scotland have plunged amid news it is set to reveal the biggest loss in UK corporate history.
  • Will the bail-out help your finances?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    19.01.09
    The Government has introduced a package of measures designed to get banks lending to you again. But what impact will the second bail-out have on borrowers and savers?
  • Anglo Irish nationalised
    Rhian Nicholson
    16.01.09
    Trading in struggling Anglo Irish Bank was today suspended on the London and Irish Stock Exchanges after it was nationalised last night.
  • Compensation for some Equitable Life victims
    Rebecca Atkinson
    15.01.09
    The Government has unveiled plans to compensate some Equitable Life policyholders who had been hit by its near-collapse, but warned the recompense would be limited.
  • HSBC shares tumble to seven-year low
    Rhian Nicholson
    14.01.09
    Shares in banking behemoth HSBC plunged to seven-year lows on Wednesday, after analysts warned a cash call could be on the cards.
  • Bank accounts fall victim to rate cuts
    Rebecca Atkinson
    13.01.09
    Banks and building societies are hitting current account customers by reducing interest rates while increasing overdraft charges.
  • Compensation shake-up on the cards
    Rebecca Atkinson
    07.01.09
    Savers should be paid compensation if a bank collapses regardless of their level of debt with the same firm, the financial watchdog has proposed.
  • UK rates likely to continue falling
    Rhian Nicholson
    17.12.08
    UK interest rates are likely to come down further in the New Year, after the latest minutes from the MPC revealed all nine members voted for the latest 100 basis point cut.
  • B&B shareholders to recoup money?
    Rhian Nicholson
    12.12.08
    Bradford & Bingley shareholders may be able to claw back some of the money they lost following the nationalisation of the bank in September.
  • Banking sector rocked by bad debt
    Chris Thomas
    12.12.08
    Shares in banks were hit hard on Friday, with HBOS unveiling a further £3.2 billion hit on bad debt as shareholders approved its merger with Lloyds TSB.
  • Secret HBOS dossier comes to light
    Rhian Nicholson
    05.12.08
    A secret HBOS dossier, reportedly outlining how close the bank was to collapsing before Lloyds stepped in, has been unveiled in the appeal against the merger.
  • BoE slashes interest rates to 2%
    Rhian Nicholson
    04.12.08
    Interest rates have been slashed to 2% in a desperate attempt to ward off the worst of the imminent recession.  
  • Banking reforms outlined
    Rhian Nicholson
    03.12.08
    Tougher legislation to "improve the resilience of the financial sector" and ensure banking customers are treated more fairly was at the heart of the Queen's speech today.
  • Are building societies safer than banks?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    02.12.08
    As savers increasingly look for the safest home for their cash, some experts are recommending building societies over banks. Rebecca Atkinson asks: are mutuals really safer than banks?
  • Savers rescued as another bank flops
    Rebecca Atkinson
    02.12.08
    Around 10,000 London Scottish Bank savers have been promised 100% of their money back even on balances over £50,000 after the Manchester-based bank was placed in administration.
  • Fresh bid to block HBOS-Lloyds merger
    Rhian Nicholson
    01.12.08
    HBOS shareholders and banking customers have joined forces with Scottish businessmen in a fresh bid to block the planned HBOS merger with Lloyds TSB.
  • How healthy is your bank?
    Sarah Coles
    01.12.08
    As savers worry over the security of bank deposits, Sarah Coles highlights the factors you need to be aware of to assess the health of the banks holding your cash.
  • Pressure on BoE to cut rates once more
    Rhian Nicholson
    01.12.08
    The pressure is on the Bank of England to cut interest rates to as low as 2% on Thursday, after more negative economic data showed the country is heading full steam towards recession.
  • RBS bail-out: What does it mean for you?
    Liam Tarry
    28.11.08
    The Government has taken a majority stake in RBS after existing shareholders snubbed a £15 billion share issue. Liam Tarry investigates what this bailout means for you.
  • Government set for 58% stake in RBS
    Rhian Nicholson
    25.11.08
    The UK Government is likely to take a 58% stake in RBS after the bank's £15bn share offer expired today, with shares well below the 65.5p offer price.
  • Is deflation a blessing or a curse?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    23.11.08
    For the past 60 years, the UK has experienced positive inflation with the cost of living increasing year-on-year. But economists are now warning that in 2009 we could see the opposite happen, with prices actually falling. Is that such a bad thing? Rebecca Atkinson investigates.
  • Barclays receives L&G backing
    Rhian Nicholson
    21.11.08
    Barclays received a boost on Friday after major shareholder Legal & General Investment Management reluctantly gave its backing to the proposed Middle Eastern deal.
  • RBS shareholders agree to bail-out
    Rhian Nicholson
    20.11.08
    RBS shareholders agree to accept the Government's £20bn bail-out, while the bank's chairman apologises for the ailing institution's current difficulties.
  • Santander shareholders miss out
    Rhian Nicholson
    20.11.08
    UK shareholders in Spanish bank Santander will miss out on the chance to take part in its €7 billion rights issue.
  • Lloyds shareholders approve HBOS deal
    Chris Thomas
    19.11.08
    A "significant majority" of Lloyds TSB shareholders have voted in favour of the proposed acquisition of HBOS at its general meeting today.
  • Banks overhaul bonus system
    Rhian Nicholson
    17.11.08
    Swiss banking giant UBS has followed the lead of other banks in radically overhauling its pay and bonus system as the credit crisis continues to bite.
  • Savings banks protect own interests
    Rebecca Atkinson
    17.11.08
    Banks and building societies have been accused of acting to protect their own interests by drastically cutting rates on saving accounts by up to 2.55% following the Bank of England's rate cut.
  • Government agency will not run banks
    Rhian Nicholson
    14.11.08
    The new Government agency set up to oversee the £37 billion taxpayer stake in three of the UK's banks will not play a part in the day-to-day running of the banks.
  • Barclays facing shareholder revolt
    Rhian Nicholson
    12.11.08
    Barclays is facing a shareholder revolt after choosing Middle Eastern investors over support from the UK Government in its fundraising efforts.
  • HSBC plagued by bad debt
    Rhian Nicholson
    10.11.08
    Bad debt charges from the US housing market continue to plague HSBC, taking its losses since the start of the credit crisis to around $23 billion.
  • Opposition grows over HBOS-Lloyds deal
    Rhian Nicholson
    10.11.08
    Opposition to the merger between HBOS and Lloyds reached fever pitch, as two of Scotland's most senior bankers to keep HBOS as a standalone institution.
  • BoE slashes interest rates to 3%
    Rhian Nicholson
    06.11.08
    The Bank of England exceeded expectations today, as it announced a 1.5 percentage point cut in interest rates.
  • The great interest rate swindle
    Rebecca Atkinson
    06.11.08
    Interest rates may have been slashed, but thousands of mortgage borrowers may not benefit from cuts, as lenders are unlikely to pass the full savings on.
  • Bailed out banks to be monitored
    Rebecca Atkinson
    05.11.08
    Chancellor Alistair Darling has unveiled plans to launch a new body to oversee taxpayers' shares in the three banks his Government was forced to bail-out last month.
  • RBS chief gets bumper pay deal
    Rhian Nicholson
    05.11.08
    Shareholders in RBS may be mourning the loss of their dividend payments, but chief exec Stephen Hestor is laughing all the way to the bank.
  • Banks may refuse to cut mortgage rates
    Rebecca Atkinson
    04.11.08
    Borrowers have been warned not to expect mortgage rates to come down despite signs that interbank lending is getting cheaper.
  • RBS investors blast accounting change
    Rhian Nicholson
    04.11.08
    Investors today blasted the accounting changes which allowed Royal Bank of Scotland to slash its reported write-downs for third-quarter trading.
  • Barclays seeks Middle Eastern boost
    Rhian Nicholson
    31.10.08
    Barclays is turning to Middle Eastern investors to raise £7.3 billion without the need for Government intervention
  • Are your savings protected?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    30.10.08
    The Government has increased the amount of savers' money that is protected should a bank go bust. It says the move will increase consumer confidence in the UK banking system - but do we have a reason to worry?
  • How low could interest rates go?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    30.10.08
    Interest rates have been cut in the US to just 1%, and some experts believe the Bank of England could follow suit within the next few months.
  • Banks back in court
    Rebecca Atkinson
    29.10.08
    Britain's biggest banks are back in court to challenge an earlier ruling that gave the OFT the right to decide whether overdraft charges are fair or not.
  • Should we really challenge bank charges?
    Joanne Christie
    29.10.08
    Britain is one of the few countries where banking is still free. But the legal battle over banks charges is putting free banking at risk. Aussie Joanne Christie says we should be careful what we wish for.
  • Crisis hits banks to tune of $2.8 trillion
    Rhian Nicholson
    28.10.08
    The credit crisis has cost global financial institutions $2.8 trillion, according to the Bank of England as it calls for an overhaul of the worldwide banking system.
  • HBOS and Lloyds boosted by Brown
    Chris Thomas
    27.10.08
    Shares in potential merger partners HBOS and Lloyds TSB were flying on Monday, as the PM voiced his opinion on the deal.
  • Just how safe is our savings safety net?
    Tony Hetherington
    27.10.08
    The compensation guarantee has now been increased to £50,000 to calm fears over banks' safety. But there are three gaping holes in the compensation system that leave people are risk of losing their money, warns Tony Hetherington.
  • HSBC shares hit five-year low
    Chris Thomas
    24.10.08
    Shares in banking giant HSBC tumbled on Friday, as negative sentiment on emerging markets badly hit the firm.
  • Global banking support stepped up
    Rhian Nicholson
    21.10.08
    France and Japan have stepped up their efforts to bail out their beleaguered banking sectors, while the IMF is to aid others.
  • Further bail-out plans bolster banks
    Rhian Nicholson and Chris Thomas
    20.10.08
    More support measures for the beleaguered global banking system helped to lift shares in UK financial institutions on Monday.
  • FSA says banks are past the worst
    Rhian Nicholson
    17.10.08
    The beleaguered banking system has passed the point of meltdown but the economic consequences of the credit crisis still have to be dealt with, according to the head of the FSA.
  • Your banking crisis questions answered
    Rebecca Atkinson
    17.10.08
    With the banking crisis changing by the day, confusion about what exactly has happened and how it will impact customers, savers, borrowers and taxpayers is rife.
  • Banks reveal further losses
    Rhian Nicholson
    16.10.08
    Bad debts continued to take a bite out of banks in the third quarter, with Citigroup and Merrill Lynch revealing further losses on Thursday.
  • Lloyds shareholders set for dividends?
    Rhian Nicholson
    15.10.08
    Lloyds TSB shareholders could still receive dividends payments while the bank benefits from the Government's $500 billion rescue package.
  • US pumps $250bn into banks
    Rhian Nicholson
    14.10.08
    Nine of the biggest US banks are to share a $250 billion cash injection as part of a part-nationalisation program.
  • Banks take Government lifeline
    Rhian Nicholson
    13.10.08
    Three of the UK's biggest banks will be part-nationalised as they fight for survival in the credit crisis.
  • New ruling on unfair bank charges
    Rebecca Atkinson
    10.10.08
    Bank charge victims have been dealt a blow after the High Court judge hearing the high profile case said most banks' terms and conditions were fair.
  • What next for Icelandic bank savers?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    10.10.08
    News that three UK savings banks - all owned by Icelandic companies - have been shut down has caused many savers sleepless nights. Rebecca Atkinson explains what will happen.
  • Banking sector enjoys mixed day
    Rhian Nicholson
    09.10.08
    Plans of an initial £50 billion rescue package boosted most of the banks, but Barclays was knocked by reports it is to offer preference shares before using Government aid.
  • British banks to be part-nationalised
    Rhian Nicholson
    08.10.08
    The UK's biggest banks are to be part-nationalised through a £50 billion rescue package in a bid to restore order to the struggling banking sector.
  • Brown unveils 'solution' to bank crisis
    Rebecca Atkinson
    08.10.08
    Gordon Brown has unveiled a plan to 'rescue' the British banking sector that includes pumping around £50 billion of taxpayers money into the biggest names on the high street.
  • ING acquires Icelandic saving accounts
    Rebecca Atkinson
    08.10.08
    Savings bank ING Direct is to buy more than £3 billion of British cash deposits held in Icelandic-owned banks Heritable Bank and Kaupting Edge.
  • Banking crisis sparks top level talks
    Rhian Nicholson
    07.10.08
    The Prime Minister is meeting with senior officials over the turmoil in the financial sector as bank shares slump further.
  • Icesave blocks customers withdrawals
    Rebecca Atkinson
    07.10.08
    Icesave has put a block on all cash withdrawals from its savings accounts following its Icelandic owner being taken into public ownership.
  • Offshore savers could be at risk
    Rebecca Atkinson
    07.10.08
    Billions of pounds of British savers' money in offshore accounts is potentially at risk if a bank goes under as no deposit protection schemes exists in Channel Islands Jersey and Guernsey.
  • Banking shares bolstered by double boost
    Rhian Nicholson
    03.10.08
    Banking shares got a welcome boost on Friday after the Government upped savers' protection and the BoE said it would accept a wider range of collateral in exchange for loans.
  • FSA raises compensation limit to £50,000
    Rhian Nicholson
    03.10.08
    Savers can sleep a little easier at night after the Financial Services Authority raised the compensation limit for bank deposits to £50,000.
  • Should I move my money into an Irish bank?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    03.10.08
    The Irish Government's pledge to guarantee 100% of savers' money, begs the question as to whether your money is better off in an Irish bank.
  • Irish look to extend guarantee to foreign banks
    Rhian Nicholson
    02.10.08
    Plans to extend a controversial new Irish law, guaranteeing all banks deposits to foreign-owned banks with a large retail presence in the country, are underway.
  • Get 100% protection on your savings
    Johanna Gornitzki
    30.09.08
    Savers could now have 100% of their money fully protected from a bank going bust as long as they are with a Irish bank.
  • How will bail-out rejection affect you?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    30.09.08
    News that US Congress has rejected the $700 billion plans to bail-out Wall Street could have long-lasting global repercussions.
  • B&B deal: What does it mean for you?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    29.09.08
    Rebecca Atkinson explains how the Bradford & Bingley nationalisation will affect you, whether you're a saver, borrower, shareholder or taxpayer.
  • Banking crisis looms large
    Chris Thomas
    29.09.08
    Banking giant Fortis become part-nationalised, while Iceland's third largest bank follows B&B in being nationalised, with Citigroup buying US bank Wachovia.
  • Government nationalises B&B
    Rebecca Atkinson
    29.09.08
    The Government has confirmed that it has taken Bradford and Bingley into public ownership and sold-on its savings business and branch base to Spanish bank Santander.
  • Shares in B&B 'extinguished'
    Rhian Nicholson
    29.09.08
    Shares in troubled mortgage lender Bradford & Bingley have been cancelled following its nationalisation.
  • Banks head into further turmoil
    Chris Thomas
    26.09.08
    Banks are hit hard as Washington Mutual becomes the largest US banking failure and HSBC cuts 1,100 jobs.
  • Bush expects bail-out to be passed
    Rhian Nicholson
    26.09.08
    George Bush has said legislators will "rise to the occasion" and pass the $700bn Wall Street rescue package.
  • WaMu becomes largest US bank failure
    Rhian Nicholson
    26.09.08
    US bank Washington Mutual has become the latest - and largest - victim of the credit crisis chaos after regulators closed the bank on Thursday.
  • City bonuses come under fire
    Chris Thomas
    23.09.08
    The big bonus culture in the City has come under scrutiny from the chancellor and the FSA.
  • HBOS shares tumble
    Rhian Nicholson
    23.09.08
    HBOS shares tumbled again on Tuesday amid fears that the Lloyds TSB takeover will not solve its funding problem or its slowing growth as the mortgage market dwindles.
  • Lloyds TSB to close up to 700 branches
    22.09.08
    Lloyds TSB is looking for property agents to oversee the closure of up to 700 high street branches once its planned takeover of HBOS completes.
  • US considers "bad bank" plan
    Rhian Nicholson
    19.09.08
    The US government is considering creating a "bad bank" to rescue the beleaguered financial system.
  • Are British banks at risk of going bust?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    16.09.08
    The collapse of Lehamn Brothers has sent stockmarkets into turmoil, with shares in British banks taking a particular battering. Is this a sign that British banks are also in danger of collapse?
  • Savers' money still at risk
    Rebecca Atkinson
    16.09.08
    There is still a risk that savers could lose their money should a bank fail, despite the Government's protection scheme, a Parliamentary committee has warned.
  • Shareholders approve A&L takeover
    Liam Tarry
    16.09.08
    Alliance & Leicester shareholders have voted in favour of the bank's £1.3 billion takeover by Santander, the Spanish owner of Abbey.
  • Beware current account incentives
    Liam Tarry
    12.09.08
    Customers with incentives linked to their current accounts aren't getting value for money, new research has claimed.
  • BoE keeps rates frozen at 5%
    Rebecca Atkinson
    04.09.08
    The Bank of England has, as expected, maintained interest rates at 5% for the fifth month in a row today.
  • Inflation soars to 4.4%
    Rebecca Atkinson
    12.08.08
    Inflation soared to an alarming 4.4% in July - up from 3.8% the previous month, reflecting the rising cost of food and petrol.
  • RBS reports a £691m loss
    Johanna Gornitzki
    08.08.08
    Royal Bank of Scotland has posted a pre-tax loss of £691 million during the first six months of 2008 - reportedly the largest loss by a high street bank in UK history.
  • Northern Rock suffers £585 million loss
    Liam Tarry
    05.08.08
    Northern Rock has announced a loss of £585 million in the first half of the year as its cash-strapped borrowers struggle to meet their mortgage repayments.
  • What does the future hold for battered banks?
    Rob Griffin
    05.08.08
    UK banks are having a torrid time and it's hitting FTSE investors in the pocket. Rob Griffin asks if the worst is over and whether it's time for canny investors to buy.
  • Tesco considers current account offering
    Rebecca Atkinson
    29.07.08
    RBS is to pull its 50% stake in Tesco Personal Finance, as the supermarket unveils plans to expand its savings range and potentially offer current accounts for the first time.
  • HBOS rights issue flops
    Rebecca Atkinson
    21.07.08
    Shareholders in HBOS have snubbed the banking giant's offer of buying new shares in the firm. How have investors reacted on our discussion boards?
  • FTSE dips despite banking rally
    Chris Thomas
    18.07.08
    Banks rallied to lead a FTSE recovery from its three-year low on Wednesday, but commodities have dragged it back down. What's the investor view?
  • Current account market failing consumers
    Rebecca Atkinson
    16.07.08
    A damning new report has found that current accounts are failing customers and leaving many exposed to high charges and dismal rates of interest.
  • What is the outlook for interest rates?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    15.07.08
    Escalating food prices have pushed inflation up to an alarming 3.8% in June. Rebecca Atkinson looks at the effect this will have on interest rates.
  • Alliance & Leicester in takeover talks
    Chris Thomas
    14.07.08
    News of a takeover approach for Alliance & Leicester has seen its share price rocket this morning, but what do investors make of the news?
  • Bradford & Bingley increases cash call
    Rebecca Atkinson
    04.07.08
    Bradford and Bingley has increased its forthcoming rights issue to £400 million after the American investor it had lined up got cold feet, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • Savers' money could receive extra protection
    Rebecca Atkinson
    01.07.08
    Savers may be protected for up to £50,000 if their bank or building society collapses, says Rebecca Atkinson - if new proposals to improve financial stability are adopted.
  • Are interest rate rises on the horizon?
    Rebecca Atkinson
    18.06.08
    An interest rate rise was narrowly avoided last month, the minutes from June's base rate vote reveal. Rebecca Atkinson reports.
  • Barclays confirms rights issue
    Rebecca Atkinson
    16.06.08
    Barclays has confirmed it is looking at carrying out a rights issue that will see it raise £4 billion from existing shareholders, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • RBS confident on insurance sale
    11.06.08
    RBS's performance and writedowns on risky assets remain in line with its previous guidance, but its results will be held back by the impact of the global credit crunch, it has said.
  • Lloyd's CEO sees more bank M&A likely
    10.06.08
    Banks are likely to pursue cross-border acquisitions as opportunities arise to make up for slower economic growth, the head of Lloyds TSB said on Tuesday.
  • Interest rates frozen at 5%
    Rebecca Atkinson
    05.06.08
    The Bank of England has voted to keep interest rates at 5% for June, despite figures showing the continued downturn of the housing market. Rebecca Atkinson reports.
  • Banks raided in price-fixing investigation
    Rebecca Atkinson
    03.06.08
    Barclays and RBS have had their offices raided by the Office of Fair Trading as part of an investigation into pricing fixing in the professional loans market.
  • S&P: We'll review UK banks
    03.06.08
    Standard & Poor's, fresh from downgrading some of the biggest Wall Street banks, said it will review its ratings of UK banks and building societies.
  • Bank charges and PPI complaints jump
    29.05.08
    Britons made a record number of complaints about financial services provision last year, driven by objections about bank account charges and PPI.
  • Faster banking payment system goes live
    Rebecca Atkinson
    27.05.08
    A new system to speed up banking payments has gone live this week, spelling the beginning of the end for the three-day clearing system. Rebecca Atkinson reports.
  • Banks postpone refunds for bank charge victims
    Nathalie Bonney
    23.05.08
    Victims of unfair overdraft fees will have to wait at least a year for refunds after banks appealed a High Court's decision that could have paved the way for caps on charges.
  • Banks ask for their money back
    30.04.08
    The credit crunch has put paid to banks buying back their shares with surplus cash, Now they want their money back.
  • Bank of England cuts interest rates to 5%
    Rebecca Atkinson
    10.04.08
    The Bank of England has taken action to ease pressures on the economy by cutting interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point to 5%.
  • Join the wealth management club
    Sonia Speedy
    28.02.08
    Services once reserved for the mega-rich are available to more people than ever before. Sonia Speedy looks at the options available on the high street.
  • How interest rate cut affects you
    Rebecca Atkinson
    07.02.08
    The Bank of England has voted to cut interest rates to 5.25%. Whether you're a borrower or saver, this will affect you. Rebecca Atkinson finds out how.
  • Banks face toughest conditions since 1990s
    30.01.08
    Banks are presently in their choppiest waters since the early 1990s with growing risks including a loss of public confidence, escalating consumer defaults and a rise in financial crime.
  • Data muddies rate outlook
    08.01.08
    Mixed signals on house prices and retail sales have done little to alter the view that interest rates have further to fall, but the big question is whether policymakers will make that move this week.
  • BoE says worse to come
    18.12.07
    BoE governor Mervyn King has said that bad news for financial markets is not yet over, with a big slowdown in the world economy probable.
  • Inflation expectations soar
    13.12.07
    Fear remains amongst Britons that inflation will soon pick up sharply, further complicating the BoE as it copes with an awkward combination of rising price pressures and softer growth.
  • Interest rates cut by Bank
    06.12.07
    The BoE cut interest rates for the first time in over two years in order to shore up the economy in the face of a global credit crunch.
  • Banks battle it out for customers
    Rob Griffin
    28.11.07
    Cut-throat competition, a consumer backlash and an OFT investigation have triggered a civil war in the banking world. Rob Griffin investigates the battle for customers.
  • Are banks letting you down?
    Jeff Salway
    11.09.07
    Given the confusing range of current account fees and charges, do banks treat their low-income customers unfairly? A consumer expert says "yes they do", while a banker disagrees.
  • Bank charge refunds on hold
    Jeff Salway
    05.09.07
    The OFT await the outcome of its test case and have put refund claims on 'excessive' overdraft charges on hold. Jeff Salway explains what this means for claimants.
  • The best student bank accounts
    Rachel Lacey
    23.08.07
    If you are looking for a good student bank account, forget the freebies and go for the real deals. Rachel Williams shows what to look for.
  • Banks blame bad debts
    Jeff Salway
    18.06.07
    High street banks have been accused of using bad debt figures to offset criticism of their massive profits, writes Jeff Salway.
  • Beat your bank
    Hannah Ricci
    29.05.07
    You can be sure your bank is making money even when it appears to be offering a good deal. Hannah Ricci shows how you can get your own back.
  • Base rate raised by 0.25% to 5.5%
    Emma Lunn
    10.05.07
    The Bank of England monetary policy committee (MPC) has raised the base rate by 0.25% to 5.5%, taking interest rates to a six-year high.
  • Are banks irresponsible?
    03.05.07
    Critics claim banks are profiteering at the expense of consumers, while supporters retort that banks are there to make a profit and support the UK economy.
  • Bank warns on money growth
    03.05.07
    Changes in money and credit growth may flag the need for interest rate changes faster than other economic indicators do.
  • Is bank charges revolt stalling?
    Jennifer Hill
    23.03.07
    Almost two-thirds of people hit by unfair overdraft charges have yet to try to reclaim the money, a study reveals. Reports Jennifer Hill.
  • Bank penalty fees face cut
    27.02.07
    The OFT is expected to rule that banks must cut the penalty fees they charge overdrawn customers, adding momentum to a consumer backlash that could see banks repay millions of pounds for past charges.
  • Free banking could end in two years
    22.02.07
    Free banking for current account customers is likely to end within two years as banks react to consumer and regulatory pressure on penalty charges.
  • First Direct to charge
    15.11.06
    HSBC Holdings has become the first major bank to say it will start charging for a current account, raising the prospect that other lenders will follow suit and end free current-account banking.
  • Check your bank charges
    Emma Lunn
    06.11.06
    The Office of Fair Trading is looking at whether bank charges are unfair - so now's the time to investigate the sums coming out of your account, suggests Emma Lunn.
  • Do you need that packaged account?
    Emma Lunn
    06.11.06
    Many bank customers are being persuaded to switch, or even being automatically upgraded, to a packaged account, but do the fees outweigh the added extras? Asks Emma Lunn.
  • Treating supermarkets like banks
    Jeff Salway
    05.10.06
    Big retail stores like Asda and Tesco are now firmly established as providers of financial products. Could they take over the market? Jeff Salway investigates.
  • Online fraud: the real dangers
    Diane Clement
    21.09.06
    If you're shopping and banking online keeping your details safe is vital. It's worth investing in protection for your computer as the dangers of fraud are very real, explains Diane Clement.
  • The top five current accounts
    Rebecca Brennan
    17.08.06
    While we're happy to switch our mortgages or credit cards to get a better rate, too many of us are far too reluctant to upgrade our current accounts. Rebecca Brennan unveils the top five deals.
  • Whingeing banks should reform themselves
    Peter Temple
    08.08.06
    If you listen to HSBC you'd think it was the debt consolidation companies that are responsible for spiralling debt. It's not. It's the banks. That's why debt consolidation is the growth industry.
  • Banking on greed
    Martin Campbell
    12.07.06
    Self restraint won't stop Britain's bankers ripping off customers, though a bloody nose might. Sadly the Government's not about to administer it, says Martin Campbell.
  • Tax the bankers
    Peter Temple
    30.05.06
    The Government's aiming at the wrong target by sticking the boot into footballers. Peter Temple would rather give the politicians a kicking - and City bankers.
  • Bank shares credit details
    25.08.05
    HSBC has become the first UK bank to share once-secret customer details with other banks and credit companies in an attempt to crack down on irresponsible lending.
  • Top five current accounts
    24.06.05
    We pick the five best accounts for credit interest and authorised debt and customer service and reveal which account is the best of the best
  • One in three cash machines now charge
    25.02.05
    Five years ago nearly all cash machines in the UK were free, but today more than one in three charges, according to research from Nationwide
  • The best bank accounts
    25.02.05
    Current accounts can be like bad relationships - we are loyal to them and then they ley us down
  • The lost millions
    25.02.05
    There's an unclaimed fortune out there - and your name might be on it.
  • The changing of the currents
    Rebecca Brennan
    25.11.04
    Most of us are married to our current accounts for life, putting up with whatever they throw at us. But it doesn't have to be this way
  • Get the most out of your bank account
    Sarah Modlock
    27.08.04
    The humble current account has come of age. No longer just the repository of our monthly salary cheque; Sarah Modlock reveals its other benefits.