The recent decision by the Bank of England to keep the base rate at 5 percent was as per expectations according to the Abbey National.
A spokesman from the Abbey National explained that the need to manage an economy that is slowing down meant it was highly unlikely to see the interest rate increased, since that would slow it further. The rise in inflation, up to 3 percent in April also meant that a rate reduction was not going to happen since that would further fuel the inflation rate.
Looking forwards the Abbey National feel there may be a cut in the interest rate later in the year, though it needs the inflation rate to be kept under control for that to happen.
Tesco Finance is understood to be aiming for a full retail bank status, offering the full range of bank products and services to customers.
The 50 percent stake RBS hold in Tesco Finance is to be bought back by Tesco itself, at a cost of GBP950 million. The initial plan appears to be an expansion of the current product range offered, with home insurance the first to receive the extra attention. After that Tesco Finance are expected to start offering basic bank accounts, placing themselves in direct competition with the high street banks.
The position of Tesco Finance, using its core Tesco brand to win customers through supermarket retailing, is a strong one. Most people in the UK use Tesco at some time, so the chance to promote a full bank operation via the stores and online could prove an excellent opportunity.
Over 5,000 copies of the Nationwide Building Society Teenagers Guide To Money have been distributed to schools and colleges across the country.
The reason the guide was produced is that just under 70 percent of teenagers in a Nationwide Building Society survey stated that they did not really understand much about finance. With this in mind the Nationwide want to equip young people with a better knowledge and understanding of finance so they can make better choices when selecting a bank account and have to manage their own money.
A Nationwide Building Society spokeswoman said that the teenagers guide would help those people leaving school and equip them with a knowledge that will stand them in good stead for the future.
