Archived News & Related Stories

Bank lending tops £10bn in July
The total amount of money lent to customers by banks increased in July to top £10 billion for the first time since records began, new figures released yesterday show.... >>

High customer service "crucial" in competitive banking industry
Banks must keep up a high level of service as it is easier than ever for customers to take their business elsewhere, according to a leading industry body.... >>

Expert: Bankruptcy should be `last resort`
Bankruptcy action should only be taken as a last resort, a major credit organisation has warned.... >>

Interest rates have `negative impact` on housing market
Rising interest rates have had a `significant` negative impact on regional housing markets, new figures show.... >>

`Be wary` of store cards at the till
An Alliance and Leicester study indicated that half of UK consumers sometimes chose to use store cards - which are offered by particular retailers instead of a traditional provider - because of convenience. ... >>

FSA regulation a `burden` on banks
Since the administration of banks and building societies has transferred to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), smaller lenders have been feeling an extra burden, the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has said.... >>

SME banking controls `to be lifted`
Price controls on the four main business banks in England and Wales are to be provisionally lifted, the Competition Commission announced yesterday.... >>

Investors `choose high interest accounts over volatile market`
Volatility in the stock market is leading investors to look for a "safe" high interest account for their money, according to a major bank.... >>

British consumers `continue spending`
Consumers in the UK seem to be continuing to spend on the high street, as official statistics showed that retail sales rose during July.... >>

Rate hold decision was unanimous
The decision by the Bank of England`s monetary policy committee (MPC) to hold the base interest rate at 5.75 was unanimous, according to minutes from the meeting.... >>

Further rate rise `could happen in autumn`
The Bank of England has signalled that it may need to raise the base interest rate again this year to help curb inflation.... >>

Financial education `starts in the home`
In July, the government said that it would prioritise financial education in UK schools, a move which was praised by Alastair Mathews, the director of policy at the Personal Finance Education Group, as "a considerable step forward" towards lowering debt and raising consumer awareness.... >>

Budgeting `is a skill with long-term benefits`
Recent research from moneysupermarket.com found that 2.1 million Britons are permanently overdrawn, while a separate study from Experian indicated that 80 per cent of the UK population regularly overspends. ... >>

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