Last week saw the launch of Scotland’s Financial Inclusion Forum, and with it requests were issued for local authorities, banks, and other financial institutions, to work together to generate and share ideas to help people take control of their own finances. Those attending the forum were asked to help ensure, “that poverty is not exacerbated by lack of access to financial services”.
Deputy community minister, Johann Lamont, said: "It is simply unacceptable that in Scotland there are areas where as many as one in five people have little or no experience of using the basic financial services so many of us take for granted such as bank accounts and insurance.“"I expect banks, the local authorities, housing associations, community planning partners, credit unions and other key players to work together to provide access to bank accounts and affordable credit; to make saving possible and help people understand and manage their everyday finances and ensure that information and advice are available when people get into debt."The new initiative is intended to provide £10m in support over 2 years in an effort to help the 10 local authorities with the worst problems to overcome the concerns that prevent as many as one in five people in some localities opening a bank account or buying insurance.
With the amount of help already in the public arena from the likes of Which? ( http://www.which.net/ ), and the growth in financial comparison web sites like Moneynet ( http://www.moneynet.co.uk ). This move should hopefully go some way to overcoming the fear and financial inertia experienced by many people over their own personal finance.
Additional reference material from the Scottish Executive ( http://www.scotland.gov.uk/News/Releases/2005/06/06103036 )
Mortgage sales hit problems
The housing market has been buoyant over the past few years, but mortgage providers and first-time buyers are both now facing a tough time. Following announcements from the Bank of England that there has been an overall decline in the total number of UK home-buyers, and a declaration from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) that the number of disputes concerning mis-sold mortgage endowments has now hit record levels, it seems that mortgage lenders are facing a bleak time. Add to this the results of a new survey, by the Edinburgh Solicitors Property Centre, which shows potential first-time buyers fear that they may never get onto the property market, and you start to see a worrying picture of the housing market emerge.
Alliance turning towards the financial dark side
Following in the footsteps of many of its high street competitors, Alliance and Leicester has announced that it will no longer accept new customers onto its Online Saver and Direct ISA accounts. The interest rate for the Online Savers account is also being cut from 5.35% to a straight 5%.
How to score with credit
With a massive £1.3 trillion of personal debt in the UK, obtaining credit and staying financially afloat are daily dilemmas for the British consumer. Many major banks, including Lloyds TSB, have recently declared an increase in the number of customers experiencing repayment difficulties, with the need for better financial advice and support has never been more important.
