Research carried out by the Abbey National has shown that around 20 percent of UK consumers have all their finances dealt with by just one provider. They feel it is simpler this way.
On top of these people who have already gone to one supplier there is another 18 percent who are seriously thinking about it. Between these two groups that is almost 40 percent of people looking to make their finances easier to manage. Does this say something about the population as a whole or the finance companies themselves wonder Abbey National?
On average we have 3 different finance organisations we deal with, as well as three passwords and three PIN numbers. No wonder people want to simplify things. The Abbey National do not advocate using just one password or PIN number though since this has a detrimental effect in security.
New Lloyds TSB current account customers will be able to enjoy a 6 percent interest rate if they open the Lloyds Plus account before 13 July.
The account is paying this exceptional rate for 12 months from the date the account is opened on balances up to GBP25,002. After the year is up the interest rate will rever back to 4 percent, still a very good rate in itself. The one proviso made is that at least GBP1,000 must be paid into the Lloyds TSB current account each month.
A spokeswoman from Lloyds TSB proudly stood by the rate offered, delighted that it was offering higher rates while many of its competitors were reducing theirs.
A new study carried out by Saga Insurance has found that those over 50 years of age do not like to discuss money unless they really have to, unlike younger people who are much more at ease with it.
However there are some things that no-one is particularly comfortable discussing, no matter what their age. The Saga Insurance study revealed that discussions regarding earnings and salary figures are disliked by all categories, with respondents saying they would try and get out of such a discussion if they could.
On the subject of discussing finances generally, around half of those involved in the study told Saga Insurance that it was not an appropriate subject to discuss, whilst almost ten percent of people said they would be embarrassed to discuss their personal finance situation with anyone.
