Not one standard easy access savings account currently beats the rate of inflation. This means all savers with cash in one are losing money in real terms as their purchasing power is diminished.
Complaints about financial firms to the independent Ombudsman Service were up by 18% during the second half of last year, after many banks and other providers wrongly rejected consumer gripes.
A coalition of charities and community groups today called on banks to increase access to financial services for the millions who are currently excluded.