Banks

Ulster Bank says 99% of its balances and payments are now up to date as the crisis which has engulfed huge numbers of its 1.9 million customers is nearly over.

Current accounts are to fall under the microscope of a consumer watchdog after the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today launched a review of the market, aimed at improving competition and ensuring banks pay more attention to their customers.

Labour leader Ed Miliband says the big five banks should sell up to 1,000 more branches to increase competition.

Farepak campaigners are reportedly set to press the firm's bank for another £10 million in compensation for customers hit by the collapse of the Christmas hamper business.

A number of RBS and NatWest customers have complained of loan payments being taken out twice, leaving their accounts short of cash which may trigger overdraft charges.

Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) has performed a massive U-turn and will now reinstate pet insurance for thousands of customers, after originally axing cover.

Some of Britain's biggest banks are facing a hefty compensation bill today after the City watchdog found "serious failings" in the sale of complex financial products to small businesses.

The Royal Bank of Scotland crisis is now into its ninth day and could last into next week, though the group claims it has solved most of the problems for its 17 million beleaguered customers.

Think Banking customers are among the hard-up victims of the RBS/NatWest IT meltdown, but the bank says the problem has been fixed this afternoon.