Barclays Bank current account customers have been made aware of some changes to the bank accounts, including an overdraft service and some new accounts.
The new overdraft service is called Personal Reserve and replaces the existing unauthorised overdraft facility. An annual fee of GBP22 provides access to an additional overdraft for up to five days. This can be used as a safety net for Barclays Bank customers who go over their normal limit, protecting them from additional bank charges.
In addition five new Barclays current accounts have been introduced, offering alternatives from free in credit accounts to annual fee accounts with extra services and interest free overdraft options. The choice provided for the customer is growing explained a Barclays spokesman.
Sitting down and watching BBC programme The Apprentice is proving to be an inspiration to many viewers to set out on their own.
A poll carried out by Direct Line revealed that nearly 20 percent of people have thought about setting up a specific business whilst watching the programme, with a further 12 percent feeling that they should take the step of becoming their own boss in some form of enterprise.
One of the biggest things that inspired these people to believe in themselves was the feeling that they could just as well, or better, than the people on the programme. This is a very positive stance to take, though a Direct Line spokeswoman did want to advise people that setting up in business is more complex and testing than it can appear on television.
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The Halifax has reported that the amount of pocket money given to children has fallen compared with last year. In 2007 the weekly amount was just over GBP8, though this has fallen to a little over GBP6 this year.
Parents will no doubt be feeling the pinch said a Halifax spokesperson, though in their defence they do still buy items such as mobile phones and ipods for their children. The best place for children to be is London, where the average pocket money is GBP8.47, followed by Scotland where they receive GBP8.20.
The lowest paying parents are found in the East Midlands, where GBP4.46 is the norm, closely followed by the south west of England where children receive an average of GBP4.58 according to the Halifax figures.