While Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) are growing in popularity, pension contributions continue to decline, prompting the Institute of Directors (IoD)to call for the government to take action on savings. According to data compiled by the IoD in association with Lucida, the amount paid into ISAs increased from £35.7 billion in 2007, to £43.9 billion in [...]
UK savers are putting more into their ISAs, with the average balance growing by 14 per cent to £8,949 over the year to January 2012, according to new research by the Halifax. The national average ISA balance has been on an upward trend since February 2009, when it stood at £7,269, with the 2011 figure [...]
There are just a few days left for savers to use their Isa allowance for the current tax year, which ends on 5 April. However, savers who miss out on this year’s allowance may get almost as good a deal from an ordinary savings account according to new research by consumer group Which? Isas have [...]
Many savers will be planning to transfer their cash Isa, to take advantage of new deals appearing prior to the start of the higher Isa allowance on 6 April. They will be pleased to hear that there has been a significant improvement in the time taken to complete a transfer. Isa’s often offer an introductory [...]
London-based Metro Bank is partnering with Australian online banking solutions provider Sandstone to create an online application platform for Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs). CallCredit will provide verification and credit checking data for the new service, which will be available in time for consumers to take advantage of the new Isa allowance, starting in April. This [...]
More than three quarters of savers are unaware that everyone aged 16 and over is allowed to put £5,340 into cash ISA this year, according to research from uSwitch. Only half of savers are planning to put any money at all into a cash ISA, and just a quarter are using their total allowance, the [...]
The AA has launched an online, instant-access account paying 3.2 per cent interest before tax, which is currently the highest rate available for people who need immediate access to their money. The account will offer some protection from the rising cost of living, without having to worry about tying up savings for a long period. [...]
The Post Office has extended its promise to match the Bank of England Base Rate percentage changes on its savings products, until 1 January 2013. The promise, which was originally planned to run until 31 March 2012, covers the Post Office’s Instant Saver, Reward Saver, Cash ISA and Easy Saver accounts. The Post Office has [...]
The Treasury has announced plans to change ISA top-up rules to help strengthen consumer confidence in the security of the product. Currently, ISA investors who lose their savings due to the collapse of a financial firm are unable to refill their annual allowance. Any savings lost as a result of a firm failing are still [...]
Halifax has improved its ISA offering with a better return on its five year fixed rate product. The ISA now pays 4.4 per cent, strengthening its position as the market leading long term fixed rate ISA. The product is an excellent option for savers who do not mind their savings being tied up for the [...]
As part of its ‘On Your Side’ campaign Nationwide Building Society has launched a credit card reward scheme which should make shopping more enjoyable for its customers. The scheme, which is available to the building society’s Visa debit and credit card customers, is designed to help their money go further. It offers discounts at several [...]
It is understood that the amount of money people can save into an Individual Savings Account (ISA) will increase by £470 next year. From April 2011, the annual tax-free savings allowance will rise from £10,200 to £10,670, while the amount for a cash ISA will rise from £5,100 to £5,335. The rise is in accordance [...]
Savers could use their ISA funds to invest in social enterprise under the government’s plans for a Big Society Bank. Money invested in the Big Society ISAs would be used to build new schools, to rehabilitate criminals, and for other socially useful projects. The ISAs would provide a way for social enterprises to raise capital. [...]
first direct is advising homeowners that using savings to offset their mortgage could leave them better off than investing in an Isa. Research from the lender shows that over the past 10 years, putting money into an offset product could have produced a better return than investing in the tax-free Isa, with the difference amounting [...]
Over two thirds of ISA investors are planning to take advantage of the increased ISA allowance as the new tax year begins this week. Research by Barclays Stockbrokers found 71% of ISA investors will be topping up their ISA by the new maximum allowance of £10,200. Three in five (59%) of these said they’ll be [...]
Leeds Building Society this week launched an ISA paying interest at 4.6%. The five-year fixed rate account can be opened with just £1. Savers can access up to 25% of their savings at any time without notice or penalty. Kim Rebecchi, Leeds Building Society’s Sales and Marketing Director said the ISA is a “market leading [...]
Nationwide Building Society has launched a new four year fixed-rate ISA paying interest at 4.25%. The ISA can be opened with a minimum balance of £1, and transfers from previous ISA savings are accepted. Nationwide also announced that its three year fixed-rate ISA paying interest at 4.15% will now only be available to existing Nationwide [...]
Chancellor Alistair Darling’s plans to automatically increase ISA limits in line with inflation are merely a “token gesture”, according to one industry expert. Andrew Hagger of financial advice site Moneynet said the new measures will cost banks more money to implement than the potential benefits for savers. “This is a token gesture that is likely [...]
Santander’s ISA has been rated top in Moneynet.co.uk’s best buy charts. The ISA, paying 3.5%, pipped Barclay’s offering to the top spot. Both Barclays and Santander are paying high rates than the best one-year fixed-rate ISAs. “The Isa market is really taking shape as we approach the annual hot bed of activity as providers look [...]
Making the effort to put your savings into a tax-free account is worth a mere 73p per month, according to research by Moneynet.co.uk. The additional returns on a tax-free ISA compared to a standard savings account for a basic-rate tax payer are equivalent to just £8.72 per year on a £3,600 investment, the financial advice [...]
Co-operative Bank ends interest-only mortgages
The Co-operative Bank will stop offering interest-only mortgages from next Tuesday, but the decision will not affect existing customers. A recent report by the Independent on Sunday suggested that a quarter of a million people with interest-only mortgages will reach retirement age by the end of the decade with a substantial capital debt still to [...]
Fall in bankruptcies hides rise in personal debt
There was a fall in the number of people going bankrupt in the first quarter of 2012 but more people are experiencing debt problems and many are simply unable to afford the £700 bankruptcy fee. According to the latest figures from the Insolvency Service, 28,723 individuals in England and Wales became insolvent in the first [...]
Financial Ombudsman receives 10% more credit card complaints
There was a 10 per cent increase in the number of complaints made to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) about credit cards last year. A total of 19,183 complaints were made in the year to April 2012, the highest number since records began in 2001, with the majority relating to claims for refunds for unsuitable [...]
Opinions divided over Olympic effect on economy
While research by the Alliance Trust suggests that an economic boost generated by the Olympics will help Britain out of recession, rating agency Moody’s is warning that any benefit will only be short term. Alliance Trust suggests that ticket sales for the event and other consumer spending on Olympic related retail products will cause a [...]
Banks unclear over repeat payment cancellations
Banks’ customer service advisers are unclear about how to cancel Continuous Payment Authorities (CPAs) according to Consumer Focus. Customers are also confused about cancelling CPAs according to the consumer group, even though new regulations were introduced by the Financial Services Authority in 2009 to make the process simpler. The confusion could be causing some people [...]
Mortgages more expensive following SVR increase
Mortgages are more expensive for one million homeowners after the Halifax, the Co-operative Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank all increased their standard variable rate (SVR) yesterday. Many mortgages revert to the SVR when a fixed-rate deal comes to the end of its term. Lenders are increasing their SVRs due to the higher cost of [...]
Average house price dipped in March
The average price of a house in England and Wales fell by 0.6 per cent to £160,372 in March according to new Land Registry figures. However, there were wide regional variations with prices falling by 1.8 per cent in London and 4.1 per cent in Wales, but increasing by 5.6 per cent in the North [...]
Leisure costs soar but disposable income falls
The cost of the majority of leisure activities has grown to its highest level for a decade while the amount of income people have left after paying all their bills is falling. According to new research by the Halifax, the cost of football tickets, train tickets, petrol, eating out and going to the gym have [...]
Visa delays launch of V.me digital wallet
Visa has delayed the UK launch of its V.me digital wallet until the autumn, rather than ‘early 2012’ as announced in November. Users of V.me will be able to store their card details in their digital wallet, and will be able to pay online via a smartphone, PC or tablet. V.me will be accessed through [...]
New Atol rules protect online holiday bookings
A scheme that protects holidaymakers if their tour operator collapses has now been extended to flight-plus holidays booked online. The Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (Atol) scheme will now protect an estimated six million holidaymakers. The scheme is designed to ensure that holidaymakers who book their holiday with an ATOL holder do not lose their money [...]
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