A study by the Abbey National Business Bank department has found that around a third of small business owners are worried about the coming 12 months.
They see their economic prospects for the period as being of concern and even poor according to the feedback received by the Abbey National. About 12 percent of respondents claimed to see an increase in clients not paying bills, with about thirty percent seeing payment delays.
On a positive note though the Abbey National also saw some 14 percent of small business owners feeling that economic difficulties will bring opportunities. It is all about perspective said a spokesman, that and the ability to effectively manage cashflow to maintain the business when money is slow to come in.
,p>The Alliance and Leicester current account offer that has a credit interest rate of 8.5 percent gross is being extended until the end of September according to a recent announcement.
The move has been made to encourage more consumers to save regularly, the high interest rate being a real eye catcher designed to highlight the benefits of saving. The accounts that are included in this Alliance and Leicester promotion are the Premier 50 and Premier Direct current accounts.
Younger savers also have an extension on their own promotion. The Alliance and Leicester Premier 21 account is a current account specifically for those aged between 16 and 21 which is offering a 10 percent interest rate during the promotional period.
An agreement has been reached on the German consumer banking arm of Citibank, with the operation being sold to Credit Mutuel of France.
The deal will see the cash reserves of Citibank around GBP3.9 billion richer and help the bank on its way to the larger target of selling around GBP200 billion worth of assets over the coming three years. The bank was badly hit by the sub prime mortgage collapse in the United States and is now working to realign the business.
As well as selling assets Citibank is also looking to shed over 16,000 jobs in the same three year period. This is again to re-structure the organisation and will go hand in hand with the selling of businesses such as their German banking operation.
