Articles
How To Get The Best From Child Trust Fund
The question, how to get the best from child trust fund, is an important one for all parents...
Opening a Child Account
If you are thinking of opening a child account, there are a number of things you have to consider...
Pros and Cons of Internet Banking
When looking at the pros and cons of internet banking, you’re going to have to admit to yourself that internet banking is going to be the future...
Pros and Cons of a Joint Account
When considering the pros and cons of a joint account, much comes down to how much you want to be financially connected to your partner...
How to switch banks
If you want to consider how to switch banks, then there's a few things to think about...
Halifax International launches Expat Focus website
Halifax International has launched a new, informative Expat Focus website www.halifax-international-expats.com, designed to enable expatriates to access breaking news, up to date information and advice from one single source, wherever they are in the world...
UK economy in to hock
Chancellor Alistair Darling has put the UK economy in to hock with his £118 billion spend now pay later gamble to beat the recession...
Round Up November 26th
Following Mr Darling’s tax cut announcement, high street retailers Next, Argos and Homebase crept up 2% while Marks and Spencer gently floated up 1%...
History of the First Direct Bank
A division of the HSBC group, the First Direct banking Group is one of the first
telephones and internet based UK based commercial banks...
History of the One Account
Established as a financial services company offering offset as well as flexible mortgage facilities for UK residents only, the One account is generally regarded as the company largely responsible for pioneering the this type of forward thinking mortgage facility in the UK...
History of the HSBC Group
The history of the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Group (HSBC) is one that is as rich and varied as it is unique...
History of a Child's Trust Fund
The results of research held by the Adult Financial Literacy Advisory Group (AdFlag) in 2001 discovered that three million people in the UK at that time were neither holders of a bank or building society account...
History of the Santander National Building Society
One of the UK's longest established institutions, the Santander National now known as the Santander National plc has developed to become Britain's second largest building society...
History of Post Office Banking
As you would probably understand, when the UK Postal Service or the Post Office was established in 1635, it sole function was to carry dispatches on behalf of the King...
History of Capital One
There are banks that have been around for hundreds of years and banks that have been around for just a few decades...
History of Barclays Bank
Barclays Bank history is as old as the history of the Great British banking industry as a whole...
History of Banking
The history of banking, as far as it can be traced, began in ancient Egypt. On those days the principal form of exchange was in grain, held in massive warehouses...
History of the Alliance and Leicester Bank
As it may sound, the Alliance and Leicester Bank were born from an amalgamation of two building societies, the Alliance and the Leicester...
The OPEC Cartel
Why is there no outrage across suffering economies at such blatant profiteering? Why do the media and governments sit on their hands and say nothing about one of the most widely used commodity prices being rigged and not subject to open market forces on the downside?...
Killed by the cure
The bailouts in the US and the UK and other countries will have negative consequences that few currently understand. The side effect of printing vast sums to help out the financial system will have the effect of creating inflation and lowering interests to artificially low levels...
Neurosis is a substitute for legitimate suffering
When the interest rates were lowered after the dotcom bust, a few voices warned us that we were storing up trouble for the future. We should, they said, take the pain now...
The Markets work...leave them alone
By the time all this carnage is over, the markets will be blamed by the politicians...and most people will believe them. But it's the politicians, not the bankers who are to blame...
What the hell is going on?
The current situation is basically global deleveraging....credit destruction. No intervention can stop it...intervention will just make the market mechanism of price discovery more prolonged and painful...
The promised bailout
At what point do we put the Fed and the treasury in front of a judge? No point, the bailout bill protected them from prosecution for ever...
Gold is real money
Measured in gold, the DOW is now about 9 oz of gold. It was over 50 oz about 7 years ago. The DOW is down, not 40%, but about 80% in real terms...
The next stage of the credit crisis
Eventually, if the jobs aren’t replaced, the local community will disintegrate and disperse and schools, doctors and government offices will close...
Hyper Inflation - causes and effects
The key cause of hyper inflation is the debasement of the currency, usually through massive money printing programs. Some economists think that we will reach hyper inflation as a result of the huge bailout programs that are currently being undertaken by bankers and politicians.
The people who saw the crash coming
Here’s are some economists/money managers who saw this crash coming and predicted the interference of the central banks in the market and the result of those interferences...
Peter Schiffs Open Letter to his investors
While I have warned for years that the United States was headed into the eye of an economic hurricane, nearly every other "expert" from Washington, Wall Street, the press and academia saw nothing ahead but sunny skies...
The European Bailout
They have to let them fail...there is no other way to avoid a hyper inflationary nightmare...but if politicians stand by and do nothing, as they SHOULD do...they will be kicked out of office...
The root of the problem - CDS
In the last few years, this market has exploded from $1tr to about $60tr as all sorts of financial institutions sought of offset risk in their dealings...
Gold is great when times are tough
For thousands of years, gold has been the store of value, the medium of exchange and the revered metal used to adorn us as jewellery...
Liquidity, Central Banks and the fly trap
The problem facing the financial system come from one common place....credit and the excesses of easy credit with a corresponding decline in the punishment for getting it wrong...
HSBC - Safe as houses?
HSBC, or the Hong Kong and Shanghai banking corporation was founded after the Opium War with China which Britain won...
The 3 bucket theory of money management
A great personal tool to use in planning your budget, savings and investments is the three bucket theory. It's so simply and yet so devastatingly effective...
Jim Rogers calls Ben Bernanke a clown live on TV
I love Jim Rogers. You always know you’re going to get it straight from the hip with him. He barely manages to hide his contempt for the cheering squad on the financial news networks...
What are the people who predicted the credit crunch saying now
Who predicted the credit crunch? Believe it or not, there were a lot of people who say the problems build and tried to bring attention to it...
“Pass the bailout or the market will tumble 3000 points!” It tumbled anyway...what does that mean?
This was the threat that Henry Paulson and Ben Bernanke delivered to congress to try and squeeze the bailout through the tightest of holes...and they failed the first time...
The era of the smart defaulter
Now that the US government has backed up all the bad and about to go bad mortgages with almost $1tr of tax payers money...
All that glistens is gold...rarely have you heard that told
I was looking for some gold coins the other day, to protect myself from the gathering maelstrom...
The tax payer is protected...it’s just wage earners and investors that are on the hook
The £500bn ($875bn) bailout in the UK of the banking system has implications for the people of the UK, but probably not the tax payers...
The transient nature of economic centres of influence
Things change....that’s the nature of our existence on the blue marble inside the bubble of the universe. Galaxies, Stars, planets, continents, coastlines and countries change...
UK House Price Crises
The origins of this housing crisis lie in a far from equilibrium position. The housing market at its fundamental level is governed by two things...wages and rents...
Nationalisation Of Bradford & Bingley Big Trouble On Monday?
Bradford and Bingley, for so long, the mortgage broker’s darling...
Irish Banks What's Happened?
The fears over the Anglo Irish Banks loan portfolio started a chain reaction that ended in the Irish government guaranteeing all banking deposits, personal and corporate...
What Is a Recession?
The technical definition of a recession is 2 consecutive quarters of GDP decline...but this narrow economists definition would mean, as I write this that the UK is not in a recession by the definition...
Ireland In Recession
The Celtic tiger has turned into a pussycat...its official. Ireland, after a decade or more of break neck economic expansion has slammed on the brakes...and how!...
What Caused This Current Global Credit Crunch?
Like many economic upheavals, the global credit crunch was caused by many factors. At the root of all of them is modern banking...yet it has scarcely been mentioned in the media...
Gordon Browns Fuel Package
Poor old Gordon Brown...nothing he does meets with approval any more. His £1bn fuel package has been slammed by critics as too little too late...
UK Poverty Line
The campaign to end child poverty claims that 5.5m children are living close to or beneath the child poverty line in the UK...
What Is Going On With Northern Rock?
Northern Rock has increased mortgage rates and pulled many savings accounts in an attempt by the government to shift borrowers and savers onto other institutions...
US Bank Rescue Plan
No sooner was the US bailout bill passed...literally 5 minutes later on CNBC, the talking heads were telling us that the bailout wasn’t a panacea and wouldn’t solve much...
Savings at Risk as Banks Topple
Savers with large amounts of cash on deposit should take action now to protect their money as the credit crunch threatens to sink more banks...
Types of Bank Accounts
Personal bank accounts are for day-to-day money management and a place to keep cash for quick and easy access...
Types of Loans
Everyone needs to borrow some money at some time or another – whether for a big purchase like a house or the occasional celebration or luxury like a wedding or holiday...
Payday Loans
Finance watchdogs are about to tighten the rules on payday loans as the first stage of an investigation in to irresponsible lending comes to a close...
Mortgages
Mortgages are not complicated – simply borrow money and pay the cash back with interest over an agreed period...
Business Bank Accounts
If you are in business, you must have business bank accounts to manage money coming in from customers and money paid out to staff and suppliers...
Savings Accounts
If you have money to spare out of your wages after paying your bills, consider saving some as a cushion for unexpected bills, like repairs to your house or car...
Which Bank is Safest?
Where's the best place to keep your money as the credit crunch threatens to sink more banks?...
Reclaiming Unfair Bank Charges
The fight between financial watchdog The Office of Fair Trading and banks over billions of pounds creamed off customer accounts as unfair bank charges is rumbling on...
Investors in New Gold Rush
Investors have taken a shine to precious metals as alternative investments as confidence wanes in financial markets...
Bank Charges
In recent years, there has been no little debate on the number and manner of bank charges imposed on their clients by the major banks. The problem has been exacerbated and hence come more into the public eye...
Credit Card Comparisons
It wasn’t too long ago that the only people who issued credit cards were banks, and generally only to customers of the bank alone. Now it seems that just about everyone except banks issue credit cards...
Creating A Budget
In the credit crunch age, creating a budget and sticking to it is a must. Yet doing so is easier said than done...
Debt Consolidation Companies
Being in debt can be a very traumatic experience. During the past twelve to eighteen months many UK families have found themselves in a situation where their personal finance situation has gradually begun to spiral out of control...
Saving Money
Why do people save money? In those uncertain financial times, this is a question that is on everyone’s lips. Money seems to be devaluing at an alarming rate, with sterling being the hardest hit...
Individual Voluntary Arrangements (IVA)
Individual Voluntary Arrangements or IVA as it is generally known describes the agreement reached between an individual who has considerable unsecured debts which he or she is unable to pay and their creditors...
Identity Theft Insurance
While identity theft is a threat to us all, nowadays people who regularly shop on or off line are much more aware of the risks than they were in the early days of the internet and in dealing with credit card transaction in general...
How To Improve Your Credit Score
At one time, and not so long ago, people who were savers by nature described the act as “putting money away for a rainy day”. Sadly saving seems to have gone slightly out of fashion in today’s’ credit driven age...
How To Cope With Debt
Most people are in debt. It’s no crime. Even the act of buying a newspaper means that you are running up a debt. From the moment that you pick up the newspaper till you pay for it, you are theoretically in debt to the newspaper vendor...
Pre-Pay Credit Cards
In answer to the question “how much will it cost me to have a pre-pay credit card?” in too many cases the answer might be a question in itself” how much wills it cost you not to have one?”...
The Cost Of A Pre Pay Credit Card
Pre pay credit card is an alternative to credit card and debit card. Here, you need to load the pre pay card with any specific amount and then use it to make purchases or pay the bills...
IVA Explained
IVA or Individual Voluntary Arrangement is a formal (legal) debt solution or lawful binding arrangements that permit you to pay back all the debts in reasonable monthly payments...
In Debt - What You Should Do?
Many people find great difficulty, while dealing with debt related issues. Some of them even think of filing for bankruptcy as the final and only solution to get rid of debt issues...
Improving Your Credit Score:
You can follow easy steps to improve your credit score. Many people follow certain simple advice or tips to bring about improvement in the overall credit score...
Identity Theft Insurance - Is It Worth It?
However, with identity theft insurance, it is now possible to protect yourself from such type of intrusion. Identity theft insurance will help you to resolve any doubtful activities, thereby giving you a mental harmony...
Getting the Most from Your Savings:
Savings account ensures that your money is safe in bank and you will obtain specific interest each month...
Debt Consolidation:
People incur debts due to various financial deficits. This is not an embarrassing situation. To have anything in excess is a part of human nature...
Creating A Budget And Sticking To It:
You can maintain your finances and stay away from debt in an effective manner by creating a budget and maintaining or sticking to it....
Comparing Credit Cards:
The major use of credit cards is mainly for purchase of products and services. You may place an order either in person or from the comfort of your home....
Bank Charges Explained:
Bank charges are specific fees set by the bank, when you fail to follow the agreed terms of the bank. When you approach any bank to open an account or apply for a credit card, you have to enter into an agreement and abide by that bank's rules...
Financial planning for a brighter future
If we all had a penny for every person that said “if I knew then what I know now” we would all be a lot better off than we are now. However if you examine that statement it makes no sense, because situations change, especially over the course of a lifetime....
How to buy stocks and shares
You might describe entering into the stock market during the ongoing and ever deepening global financial crisis that we are going through as leaping through a flaming hoop into a lion's den....
Switching Banks: How good an idea is it?
If there were statistics available, they would probably show that people generally stay with the same bank all their lives, although not necessarily the same branch....
Getting the most from your current account
In these difficult financial times, there are very few people that can afford to keep money on deposit, and most are managing their current account on a month to month basis....
Mortgages and negative equity
Not so long ago the rules of buying a property were clearly defined. Mortgage banks set some pretty strong criteria which had to be strictly adhered to and there were no room for negotiation....
The Bank Manager - Friend or Foe
There are many people who never learned or have lost track of what banks are all about. Basically banks are a business like any other. They don’t have any money of their own, at least not to lend out to other people...
The Credit Crunch, Mortgage Borrowers and a Fall in House Prices
The Bank of England has tried to help mortgage borrowers, and prevent a further decline in the economy from a repeated fall in house prices by reducing interest rates earlier this year. Interest rates currently remain unchanged for the time being and stand at 5 per cent...
Banking is Better Today. The History of Banking
The age that we live in is one of instant access to information and highly competitive market places. As consumers, we are starting to take the conditions of our economy for granted...
Selecting the Best Bank Account for You
Every bank offers a different range of products, but at the very least, you are certain to find a set of basic products that are available through every institution...
Banking Safely When You Bank Online
Most online banks go to extraneous measures to protect your privacy and keep your information secure. There are limits to what they can do, however, and there are ways that you can help their efforts...
Opening a Bank Account - How the Process Works
Do you need to open a new bank account? There are many reasons why a second, third, or even fourth account can be appealing; it can help with budgeting or managing different funds...
Who is the APACS and What Do They Mean to You?
The APACS is responsible for bank clearing in Britain. It is this institution that ensures that when you deposit a cheque into your account, the money will be moved from the cheque's account to yours...
Introducing Children to the World of Banking
Opening an account for your child is an excellent way to introduce them to the world of finance. Many parents do it with the hope that their child will learn the value of money management early, and will look after their financial situation in adulthood as a result...
When Prevention Doesn't Work: Protecting Yourself After Your Personal Data Has Been Lost
Legal advocates and many institutions are imploring people to be wary of situations in which their personal information can be stolen. When details about your life, your identification, and your financial situation fall into the wrong hands, they can lead to you becoming a victim of identity theft...
Building collateral - ways to improve your borrowing potential
If you are looking for ways to improve your chances of receiving a loan, the best option is to build your collateral in order to show the lender that you have a strong financial history and are a dedicated to repaying the loan...
Lending has come a long way: advancements in loan services
The lending business has come a long way from the days of illegal loan sharks and shady business transactions...
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