Phil Anderson Financial Services joins national award scheme recognising the best independent mortgage brokers in the UK. Phil Anderson Financial Services, the Caithness based financial advisers has entered the Best Independent Mortgage Broker category in The ESTAS, the largest award scheme in the UK residential property market.
Bank of Scotland is refunding two months interest1 - up to a maximum of £1,000 - for Homemovers and First Time Buyers when they take out a qualifying mortgage. Available from 19th August until 6th October, the offer is available to customers choosing and completing on a qualifying mortgage product2.
The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, Andrea Leadsom, today encouraged employers and voluntary sector organisations to engage with credit unions to help them provide affordable credit and responsible financial services in their communities. Following the launch of the government's call for evidence on credit unions in June, the Economic Secretary today visited London Mutual Credit Union to hear first-hand how credit unions are providing a payday loan product at a fraction of the costs charged by payday lenders.
Matt Sanders, Gocompare.com's banking expert, said: "These figures make interesting reading and it's clear that customers have been enticed by incentives and cash back deals. The figures show that the biggest winners are Santander with its 123 account, which offers varying amounts of cashback, and Halifax with its £100 payment for those who switched to its Reward account, as well as the £5 per month in credit incentive.
ISAs are changing into a new, simpler product as part of changes announced in the 2014 Budget. From 1 July, the 'New ISA' (NISA) will have an annual allowance of £15,000 - the biggest ever increase to ISA limits - and all or part can be invested in cash, stocks and shares or whatever combination of the two that you choose.
* Output levels rise solidly in April, albeit at slowest pace in four months * Faster increases in new business and backlogs of work * Inflationary pressures strengthen slightly. Scotland's private sector economy continued to grow in April, the latest Bank of Scotland PMIreport showed, with output and employment both rising on the month.
RBS and NatWest extend services to customers through the Post Office. From later this year, NatWest and RBS personal and business customers can make deposits or pay in cheques at any of the Post Office’s 11,500 branches Customers can already withdraw cash, and check their balance NatWest and RBS are extending the services personal and business customers can use through the Post Office from later this year to include pay-ins of cash and cheques.
The Highland Council is to write to the UK Government, the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities to highlight its total opposition to the high-cost short-term credit offered by pay day lending companies and the misery that spiralling debt brings to the poorest in society. A priority, they say, is to cap the level of interest on the repayment of loans, which can be as high as 4,000 per cent, at no more than 60 per cent.
As we approach 2013, nearly five years on from the start of the “Credit Crunch” of 2008, households in the Highlands and Islands Region continue to face many financial challenges. There are challenges for both borrowers and savers in equal measure; whether it is the saver who has seen interest paid on savings being slashed, or the borrower who can no longer access credit from their Bank.
HI-SCOT Credit Union is now operating across the Highland area and provides an opportunity for people in the community to come together to save, and borrow money at low rates. Credit Unions are not-for-profit co-operatives, with surpluses being returned to members.
Scotland's 143,000 small and medium sized businesses will soon have access to a previously unavailable source of finance, with the launch of a pioneering point of sale rental finance facility. Bank of Scotland Business Banking and innovative Australian financial services company, RentSmart have created a joint venture, RentSmart Ltd that will launch the new facility in the UK in May.
