Plenty of financial concerns have struck the UK and Australia in parallel in recent months, and not all directly as a cause of the global slowdown either.

There’s been the odd major banking scandal; the issue of fee-driven banking products; and the issue of payday loans, which is also gripping both countries.

Now the focus turns to individuals and, more specifically, the issue of bonuses.

[Read more at Which4U]

"Robbing the poor to feed the rich"

The ‘banking crisis’  is set to strike a new low in confidence at the end of 2011. And there is no Eurozone to blame here; it is a situation entirely of UK banks’ own making.

This week has been a decidedly poor one for banks, and has highlighted several problems endemic within the financial system.

[Read more at Which4U]

It has been estimated that savers at the basic level of tax would need to be investing at a rate of at least 6.5% to avoid losing out in real terms, and greater still for higher rate taxpayers. However, the low base rate set by the Monetary Policy Committee to aid growth is leaving very few products available at a percentage that can offset the high inflation rate.

What are the options?

[Find out at Which4U]

Social media is set to become increasingly useful when trying to manage your bank accounts and other financial products online.
This is the opinion of ‘Bank of Mum & Dad’ presenter, Lawrence Gold, who believes that social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter will become “very, very important” in shaping the way consumers control personal finance products like their current accounts and credit cards.

Mr Gold explained that these domains have already made managing money on the Internet easier and then went on to insist that this trend is likely to continue in the near future.

He noted that many people now expect to be able to sort their cash out “at their desk or at home” rather than going to the high street.

“I want to move money now – and if you go on the internet you can do that. If you go into the branch, it takes time,” the expert went on to say.

Research published earlier this week (August 24th) by Cable & Wireless Worldwide showed that online banking is the most important aspect of personal finance to 60 per cent of customers.

This is no surprise as researching and implementing financial options such as student accounts can now often be done by consumers in the comfort of their own home, or even on the move.

This is the view of Justin Modray, from online resource Candid Money, who believes that individuals should take the time to weigh up options when it comes to making financial decisions.

Mr Modray went on to explain that the “obvious route” of discussing this type of product with a financial advisor could often prove too costly for many individuals, while some professionals in this field may not be as independent as they claim to be.

“For more straight-forward products such as savings accounts, credit cards and mortgages it’s not too difficult to do your own research,” he noted
The expert went on to explain that the internet represents a “great resource” for many monetary matters.

This could help students to find better ways to save money whilst at university studying for their degrees. This is essential with the impending increase in tuition fees, and may lead to lower levels of debt at the end of their time in higher education.

Recently, the Financial Services Consumer Panel (FSCP) revealed that many people in Britain find the process of deciding and signing up for the best personal finance options for themselves both stressful and unrewarding.

Research into bank accounts carried out by Defaqto, the financial researcher, shows that in-credit current accounts are falling in numbers, with figures down from 65 in May 2009 to 58 today.

Providers used to rely on cross-selling other financial products such as credit cards and Home Loans in order to make up their losses, but in the wake of the recession, banks are looking at new ways to generate profits.

Experts are expecting this trend to continue, predicting that in as little as five years, free bank accounts may only be offered by new banks looking to attract new customers.

The number of paid bank accounts offering benefits such as annual travel insurance, have risen from 54 to 63 in the last two years. The fees applied to these accounts have also increased, with Barclays and Lloyds TSB now charging an annual rate of £300 to access their premier products.The free banking model has been operating in the UK since the 1980s, allowing customers to deposit and withdraw cash both in-branch and through a network of cash machines, write cheques and use branch facilities without being charged for the privilege.

Current accounts are loss-making products, but bank are able to use them in order to cross-sell other lucrative financial products.

However, in the wake of the financial crisis, banks have been looking into ways of increasing profits made from current accounts. An easy way to raise this extra revenue is to charge a fee for accounts.

Banks have been pushing paid accounts by offering incentives such as discounts on fees and other benefits in an attempted to lure customers in. It is estimated that over a quarter of all current account holders currently have a fee-charging account. However, these ‘package accounts’ have been criticised by the Financial Services Authority, saying that they charge for extras that “may not benefit” customers.

The Treasury is looking to get banks and insurance companies to develop a range of basic savings accounts and insurance policies that simplify personal finance.

The government hopes that this will encourage people to get into the habit of putting money aside on a regular basis.

However, the previous government failed to get a similar idea off the ground.

The government said in a that the sheer choice of different financial products available on the market each with a different set of terms and conditions could be confusing to consumers.

For example, according to a newly-published consultation paper, there were 2,000 different savings accounts offered through 150 providers.

Comparing such products has proven difficult for some, which means people were unlikely to switch bank accounts and instead stick to the status quo which may cost them more or not be the rightaccount to suit their needs.

The consultation paper said: “It is not the government’s intention that simple products should restrict consumer choice. It believes that they should sit alongside existing products similar, for example, to supermarket ranges which carry labels like ‘essential’ or ‘basic’”.

Treasury Minister Mark Hoban said the basic range products could include savings accounts that come without the confusing bonus introductory rates that change after 12 months.

He also spoke about the introduction of basic life assurance deals as well as reliable insurance policies that would provide an income in the event of policyholders being made redundant or falling ill.

Many banks are also currently offering free business accounts to small businesses

The UK is headed for a bumper Christmas spend this year, despite disruption caused by heavy snow earlier in the month.

According to Barclays, the nation is expected to spend a record £48.9 billion on Christmas this year – up 8% on last years figures.

It is likely that  some towns and cities will be abnormally busy after many had to postpone shopping trips due to treacherous weather conditions.

According to the figures, December 23rd is expected to see the highest volume of debit and credit card spending, with more than £1 billion in sales.

Meanwhile, predictions say that Christmas eve will see the highest cash withdrawal volumes from ATM’s, peaking between 11am – 12pm with an estimated £24,000 withdrawn every second as shoppers raid savings accountsc in a final bid to finish off any last minute shopping.According to the figures, a record £30 billion will be spent on debit cards throughout December. Despite the freezing weather conditions earlier in the month and further cold spells to come, most transactions will still take place on the high street, with online shopping making up just over a quarter of the total debit card spend.

Most debit card spending will take place in supermarkets, with an estimated £6.4 billion set to hit the checkouts as people prepare to indulge over the festive period. Fueling stations will also see sales of around £1.6 billion in debit card transactions, as people travel to their Christmas destination to settle down for a long weekend.  Meanwhile ATM’s will give out £18 billion this month.

{The high spending levels are also expected to continue after Christmas, with anyone that likes a bargain making the most of the sales during the extra bank holidays as Christmas and Boxing day fall on a weekend this year. Many will also be looking to avoid the VAT rise next month by making any large purchases now.

London will see the busiest crowds this month,  with the likes of Oxford Street and Westfield taking more than £5 billion in sales throughout December alone.

Dan Wass, Director of Current Accounts at Barclays said: “The early snow falls this month meant that the start of December was a little quieter on the high street than expected.  This is likely to put even greater pressure on retailers as we draw to the end of the Christmas countdown, with customers being forced to do their shopping at the last minute.

We urge customers to stay safe in busy areas and encourage them to use their debit cards rather than carrying large amounts of cash.  Nearly all shops, restaurants, bars and online companies accept debit cards so it is the easiest way to get your Christmas spending done quickly and securely. We would remind customers to take care of their card and their PIN, especially when using their PIN in crowded places.

Budgeting is also essential – customers can use Barclays mobile banking to keep track of their balance whilst they are out shopping.  They can also sign up to weekly text alerts for a mini-statement of their bank account.”

In coming months, the Nationwide building society will withdraw its popular commission-free use while abroad, charging a fee when accessing bank accounts using a debit card.

This is a fee that most other banks already charge for debit card use abroad, with fees of  up to £4 for every £100 spent, which is on top of exchange fees and any additional costs.The Nationwide Flexaccount is now being changed in order to reward loyal customers at the expense of people that recently opened an account to avoid paying charges.

The commission-free withdrawals are to be replaced by a free travel insurance policy

A concerning number of Nationwide bank account customers are said to be ditching their accounts, despite the building society insisting that its fees will still remain lower than most competitors after the changes.

“Many competitors charge a higher level of 2.75%,” says the Nationwide.

“Our charge of 2% is the lowest charge in the market on a mass-market current account.

“That means when a customer spends £1,000 abroad, they will be charged at least £15 less than those with other providers,” it added.

For years the Nationwide debit card has come highly recommended for holidaymakers. Many customers signed up for a Nationwide account purely for the commission-free feature.

At present, anyone using ta Nationwide debit card in Europe is not charged for the privilege, although a 1% charge does apply when making transactions outside the eurozone.

However, from 1 November, Nationwide is to levy a 2% fee on all overseas transactions.

This foreign exchange fee will be changed whenever you use your card, whether you plan to pay for something or withdrawing  money from a cash machine.

The building society will also levy a cash-withdrawal fee of £1, which is to replace the current 1% currency-conversion charge.

This levy will not apply to Nationwide credit card holders.

Nationwide is keeping its overseas usage charges at 1% for purchases made outside the European Union, and free within the EU.

How to save your money

By the time you hit 30, there are a number of steps you should have or are planning to take to build on your financial knowledge to secure your future finances.

Life has a way of passing you buy, and before you know it you’ve lived out your 20s and suddenly you’re a fully fledged adult.

Welcome to the 30s club! Up to now, you have probably learned enough about yourself and your finances to know at least the basics for managing your money. Now it’s time to build up the foundations of this knowledge and experience to set yourself up for the future.

There are a number of steps that should be employed by anyone in their 30s towards a better financial future. 10 principles have been outlined below that can help you in reaching your retirement goals:

1. Your first objective should be to clear all non mortgage debt. In Your 20s you are likely to have far less financial responsibility, but 30s tend to bring new financial obligations such as a family to support and a mortgage to repay. One of the most effective ways of freeing up your cash is by paying off your debts. It is assumed that you will have paid off any credit card debts over the last decade, but if this is not the case then this should be your priority.

The most effective way to pay off credit card debt is through transferring the debt to a credit card that has a 0% balance transfer period. This will allow you to set up a payment schedule to clear the debt over the 0% period, without incurring any more interest. Most credit card providers will charge a transfer fee of around 3%, but this is likely to be significantly lower that the high rates you’re currently paying.

After these high interest debts have been cleared, focus on clearing any student loans and other forms of debt.

2. Lose the debt habit. It’s no good clearing all of your debts if you go out and acquire new ones.
One way of avoiding debt is by saving up for costly purchases such as new car or kitchen appliances. Now you’re debt has been cleared, you could deposit the money you would have otherwise been paying in interest and repayments into a high interest savings account. For example, you have just made your final monthly repayment of £250 on a loan, rather than simply giving yourself more disposable income, continue to make the payments but into a bank account. After a year you will have saved £3,000 without even noticing any difference in your outgoings.

3. Start taking a serious view to retirement. Most people don’t plan for their retirement in their 20s. This wasn’t the time to start investing and you may not have been paying into a pension fund. Now it’s time to start planning for your future and looking at all of the possibilities in terms of retirement and a pension fund.

This is everything, from what age you wish to retire; how you would like to live – how much money you will require, all based on a realistic goal that you can reach through what can seem like a lifetime of investing. Time is still on your side, so use it before it passes you by and makes things difficult. The earlier you start the better, and the more chance you will have of enjoying a comfortable retirement without having to give up too much until then.

Before you begin to think about saving for your children’s futures, e.g. education expenses, ensure you have sorted yourself out. You can easily take a loan out to pay for college, but not for retirement.

4. Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. You should diversify your investments to ensure your cash isn’t tied up in one sector, as markets have been known to crash and this could leave you with nothing.

It is generally recommended that you should try to invest around half of your portfolio to large companies, split evenly across growth and value.

You may want to look into putting some of your savings into fixed rate bonds. These accounts allow you to fix the interest rate paid on your balance for a specified period of time, allowing you to predict how much the investment will earn. This is also good as the base rate is on a downward path, as a variable rate savings account would reflect these changes by reducing the rates. By fixing the rate you can protect yourself from these reductions. There is an element of risk involved in fixed rate bonds, as rates could also rise through the life of your account, which would leave your savings subject to a lower rate than that offered to new and variable rate customers.

5. Every day’s a school day. Continue to learn and never stop investing in yourself. You will begin to widen your investment knowledge, and it is this that will help your earning power through informed decisions.

6. Protect your assets. There is only so much planning you can do to prepare yourself for the future and even what appears to be a full-proof financial plan can be derailed as a result of unexpected cost. It can pay off to cover yourself from every angle, allowing you to survive every “what if” scenario. This can be as simple as taking out adequate insurances to cover your possessions and even your life.

It is also a good idea to save for an emergency fund, covering yourself in the event of a job loss, medical emergency or anything else that life may throw at you. This should be enough to cover all of your outgoings for up to six months. This may all be too much to take on, so you may wish to start saving a small amount towards this fund so you can build up a more substantial amount over a time.

7. The simple life. Saving your gratification for a distant future might not be fun, but adopting a simple lifestyle is an effective way to reach the goals of today, while still achieving your long-term goals. Take a close look at all of your regular outgoings and spending to identify areas that could be trimmed for the cause. Small sacrifices can lead to big rewards.

8. Write a Will. This may seem like a hasty step to take, but if  the unthinkable happen, you would have no choice in where your possessions go. A will can ensure that your wishes are met, allowing you to specify who would be entitled to your assets.

If you’re a parent to children under the age of 18, think about who could take care of them should something happen to yourself and the other parent. This can also be specified in a will.

9. A price on your life. If you have somebody who depends on you financially, it is important that you consider taking out a life insurance policy. If you died, you would want to be sure that they were financially secure. At 30, there are some great life insurance deals available to you. The premium can be reduced based on certain elements, such as not smoking.

10. Tax free savings. An effective way of saving towards a better future and taking advantage of your tax free savings allowance is through cash and investment ISAs. Each year, all individuals are entitled to an ISA saving limit of £7,200, in which they can invest cash and investments. There is a £3,600 limit on cash ISAs within any one tax year, but you can invest the full £7,200 in a stocks and shares ISA, with a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) exemption of up to £9,600 per year.

Securing your money

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he will do “whatever it takes” to ensure that people’s savings are protected as the economy continues to battle through the financial crisis.

The possibility of savers losing money deposited into a bank never even crossed the minds of most people, and it was not until Northern Rock suffered financial problems and had to be nationalised that this possibility became more of a reality. The initial strategy started the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) raising the level of potential compensation on savers deposits from £35,000 to £50,000. This limit is currently under review for a further increase.

After the Icelandic bank Icesave collapsed, many panicked as conditions with the way that their compensation scheme was set up meant that UK savers would not be covered for the first £16,000 of deposits. The UK government reacted by assuring all UK Icesave customers that their money would be refunded in full, regardless of any limits set by the FSCS.

So what measures have been put into place to ensure the safety of savers if a UK regulated bank or building society were to face similar problems?

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) was re-enforced last October to ease the crisis, and there has been a lot of debate over how to improve the system.

How has the system improved?

Before Northern Rock fell into trouble, the first £2,000 of savers money was fully protected, then 90% of the following £33,000 was protected. This meant that a £35,000 investment was only covered up to £31,700.

In October 2007, the system was re-structured, protecting savers for 100% of the first £35,000 per institution per person. This meant that as long as your money was spread out between different institutions, you could effectively protect large sums of money, and joint accounts would be seen as two people, therefore covering £70,000.

In October 2008 that threshold was again raised, from £35,000 to £50,000 per savings account
per institution.
A fast track strategy has also been designed to provide those affected with access to some of their savings within 7 days of a bank closing.

It would currently take around a month before savers would be compensated if a large bank were to close.

How much of my savings are covered?

As it currently stands, any UK bank, building society or credit union will guarantee protection for deposits up to £50,000.

Banks from outside of Europe must set up a UK subsidiary in order to be allowed to operate in the UK and those subsidiaries must have a FSCS membership to provide protection on your savings.

Other systems are in place for banks based in the European Economic Area (EU members plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) that cover against their home scheme.

These schemes are set up to provide compensation for at least the first €20,000, although some offer substantially more than that which can amount to more than current UK protection limit.

Most of these schemes are also partly covered by the FSCS so any remaining money between the €20,000 (around £16,300) and up to £50,000 is also covered.

All individuals are currently covered up to £50,000, so joint accounts are seen as two seperate individuals, thus covering up to £100,000.

The protection limit only applies per institution, so if you have more than £50,000 savings it is recommended that you spread the money around to ensure you are fully covered.

For example, if you had £50,000 saved with Alliance & Leicester and an additional £50,000 with Abbey,  the full £100,000 would be protected. However, if you had accounts held with different brands that fall under the same institution such as Halifax and Bank of Scotland, you would only be covered up to £50,000 of your £100,000. Some institutions also allow multiple claims over their brands, so make sure you have done some research before deciding where to keep your money.

For an up-to-date list of which banks fall under the same institution and which are counted as independent with individual registrations to the Financial Services Authority (FSA) see which4u’s List of banks by institutions.

Something else to keep in mind is that if you have your money in high interest savings accounts, your £50,000 can quickly increase, taking it over the protection limit so your interest will not be covered. The best way to avoid any problems is to work out how much interest you expect to accumulate, and invest the limit minus the difference.

What protection is provided for small businesses?

The FSCS set up the deposit protection scheme for private individuals. However, small businesses can also benefit from similar protection to savers if the limited company meets at least two of the following three criteria:

• A turnover of no more than £6.5 million

• A balance sheet total of no more than £3.26 million

• No more than 50 employees

Partnerships can only claim up to £50,000, rather than £50,000 per partner.

Sole traders can only claim up to £50,000 in total, with both personal and business accounts included. This means that personal and business accounts must be spread over different institutions.

What about Irish banks?

The Irish government recently decided to offer full protection on all deposits, bonds and debts. This gives investers the freedom to keep all of their money in one place without having to worry about the possibility of losing any of it.

The banks currently offering this unlimited protection are Allied Irish, Bank of Ireland, Anglo Irish Bank, Irish Life and Permanent, Irish Nationwide Building Society and the Educational Building Society.

Gordon Brown has not followed Ireland’s move to offer an unlimited protection, but has stated that the government won’t let any UK depositors lose any money.