News Tag: poverty
March 8, 2010
Eleven industry leading sustainable banks have pledged to deliver banking services to the world's poorest people.
The banks made the promise at the second summit of the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV) in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh, earlier this month.
"Fighting poverty will remain the first priority for the banking sector in the foreseeable future," said Fazle Hasan, GABV co-founder.
This ...
Sustainable banks pledge to serve the poor
by David Masters
January 27, 2010
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today revealed that the number of pensioners living in poverty has shrank by almost a third to two million in 2007/08 from 2.9 million in 1998/99.
Poverty is officially defined as living on 60% of the average income - once housing costs have been paid.
The ONS also revealed that fewer over 60s are relying ...
ONS reveals fall in pensioner poverty
by Kay Murchie
January 15, 2010
A new microfinance bank in Bahrain is set to help thousands of needy families.
The Family Bank, a joint initiative between Bahrain's Social Development Ministry and the Grameen Bank, will offer loans of between 150 and 7,000 Bahrain Dinars (between £250 and £11,500).
"The idea is to make needy and creative Bahraini families self dependent by helping them set up their own ...
Microfinance loans to help needy in Bahrain
by David Masters
June 29, 2009
Pensioners are missing out on up to £5.4 billion per year in benefits they are entitled to, Age Concern said this week.
The over-50s charity said thousands of pensioners are refusing to claim benefits because they are too proud to do so.
Many pensioners would feel like they were taking handouts if they accepted benefits they hadn't earned, Age Concern said.
Michelle Mitchell, Age ...
Failure of ‘bogged down’ pensions system
by David Masters
February 27, 2009
The average person seeking debt advice from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is nearly £17,000 in the red and would need 93 years to pay back the money at an affordable rate.
This is compared to an average debt of £10,600 in 2001, and CAB expects the situation to deteriorate further in the year ahead.
The most common reasons for debt are ...
Average debt needs 93 years to repay
by David Masters
April 16, 2008
Figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) have established that half of all single pensioners receive an annual income of under £6,000.
The ONS figures, which cover 2005/06, also revealed that 62% of pensioner couples had a total pension income of less than £10,000.
The research is highlighting the need for a private pension as figures from financial advice company Hargreaves ...
Pensioners slipping below the poverty line
by Kay Murchie
