Banking

Special Pensioner Bonds paying "market-leading" fixed savings rates will be available from January 2015 to all over-65s, Chancellor George Osborne announced in today's Budget.

Major banks have pledged to provide current account data in a standardised format. The Government hopes it will encourage comparison sites that could help consumers check if they're getting the best deal.

Savings rates are at an all-time low. But with less than a month left to take advantage of this year's Isa allowance, should you be using it?

All the major banks have either replaced or shaken up the bonus schemes that played a big role in past mis-selling scandals – but some are still using high-risk schemes, the banking watchdog says.

NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank are banning introductory bonus rates to get back to basics with simpler products. But MoneySavingExpert.com creator Martin Lewis says the move could result in even lower returns and less certainty for savers.

Customers of newly-created TSB have voted it the worst bank for customer service, according to the latest Banking Service Index from MoneySavingExpert.com.

If you're an HSBC current account holder, you can now get up to 1.6% AER interest on your savings with the bank's new Isa – but it's not a market-leading deal.

Santander customers who use the bank's agencies will have to travel to branches instead from October, after it announced plans to close all 139 outlets in rural and suburban areas.