Banking

29 Lloyds Bank branches and 15 Halifax branches are to close by the end of November, with the banks blaming the move on customers using them less. We've full info on which outlets are closing and what to do if your local branch is affected.

HSBC, First Direct, M&S Bank and John Lewis Finance are making a second set of payments to some customers who have been in arrears in recent years. Having previously paid some customers compensation for substandard service, they're now issuing refunds – in one case paying out over £7,000 – for interest and charges that shouldn't have been due. So if you get a cheque out of the blue, DON'T bin it thinking it's a scam or spam.

Barclays current account customers can get £36/year+ by opting into its Blue Rewards loyalty scheme – but if you're already signed up, you'll now need to be registered for online or app banking by 3 August to stay a member.

A pilot scheme in eight towns across the UK will test new ways to boost access to cash in local communities – with measures including local shops offering cashback, new 'bank hubs' in Post Offices and more free ATMs. And while it's a small-scale trial at the moment, if successful these measures could be rolled out more widely in future. 

Members of the House of Lords have called on the Government to protect access to cash and to do more to prevent the poorest from being excluded from access to financial services. The call for action comes as part of a report published today by the cross-party House of Lords Liaison Committee.

Barclays is to close its Pingit payments app on 30 June, and related services including Pingit savings 'jars' and Pingit's wearable tech which allows you to make contactless payments will also be scrapped. If you use Pingit and are affected, we've full info below on exactly what's changing and what you need to do. 

M&S Bank customers whose current accounts are being closed this summer can now apply for the top cash switching incentives from its sister banks HSBC and First Direct no matter how long they’ve had their account.

Santander is to close 111 branches - around 20% of its 563 UK branches - by the end of August, with the bank blaming the move on customers increasingly banking online. We've full info on which outlets are closing and what to do if your local branch is affected.

MoneySavingExpert.com's 'Academoney' course - prepared and written by the Open University - is going bilingual, giving Welsh-language speakers the skills and knowledge they need to master their money, in their choice of Welsh or English.

The contactless card payment limit will rise from £45 to £100, the Treasury has confirmed. The news comes ahead of today's Budget, although Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to formally announce the shake-up in his speech.