The Bank of Scotland has found that small businesses are saving some of their money rather than investing it back into the business.
Of the 1,000 small business owners surveyed by the Bank of Scotland over three quarters of them felt the uncertainty surrounding the economy at the moment meant it was best to save their money rather than investing it in the business. Over the coming year 38 percent of respondents planned to save their money to invest in the business later while 37 percent wanted to use it to earn interest.
Small business owners were also advised by the Bank of Scotland that its Total Business deposit account could help save them money, something that, by the sound of it, is very important to them.
Having looked at the savings habits of the nation the Halifax can now highlight which parts of the country save the most, and the least.
Top of the Halifax savings league is London, with an average savings balance of over GBP14,200. In second place was South Buckinghamshire, followed by Shrewsbury to make up the top 3 saving locations. The top performing savers outside the south of England can be found in Derbyshire, having an average savings pot of just over GBP11,600.
A spokesman from the Halifax was pleased to see how good the average figures were but did hope that those without such levels of savings would aim to increase the amount they save.
The Alliance and Leicester is passing on the Bank of England base rate cut to its customers by reducing the interest rate on most of the savings accounts it offers by the full 0.25 percent.
The changes by the Alliance and Leicester will come into effect on 2 May, with only a small number of accounts not having their interest rates cut. These will include the Premium Regular Saver, eSaver and their ISA products Premier ISA and Premier ISA 2.
One other Alliance and Leicester savings account, the Direct Saver, will have an interest rate cut of 0.23 percent rather than the full 0.25. Other financial institutions are expected to follow suit, looking at ways to improve their profitability and cash flow in these difficult times.
