Banks

Just over 1% of the 70 million active current accounts in the UK were switched in the first nine months of this year – although thousands more people switched banks than in the same period in 2015.

The last bastions of decent interest rates - high interest accounts - are disappearing fast. Lloyds, First Direct, HSBC, M&S and TSB have all followed Santander's lead and decided to cut their rates, either immediately or in the next few months. Plus Halifax has also slashed its monthly reward.

Three of the country's best-paying current accounts will dramatically cut the interest and rewards they pay millions of customers early next year, MoneySavingExpert.com can reveal, as banks continue to slash headline rates on their top accounts.

Fraud procedures at Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland have been placed under review after a MoneySavingExpert.com investigation revealed lost and stolen contactless cards can be used by crooks months after they're cancelled – with some banks failing to spot dodgy payments.

The plastic fiver enters circulation today with the Bank of England promising the new note will be a stronger and more secure upgrade on its paper predecessor.

Mortgage lenders that have not yet passed on Bank of England (BoE) base rate savings to their customers could attract the attention of the regulator as it carries out a study into mortgage competition.

The chair of the House of Commons' influential Treasury Select Committee has called for banks to do more to protect customers after MoneySavingExpert.com revealed that crooks are able to use contactless credit and debit cards months after they've been cancelled.

A report by the competition watchdog ordering monthly unarranged overdraft fees to be capped has been criticised by the Treasury Committee for not going far enough.

Complaints about Lloyds Bank, HSBC, Bank of Scotland and Barclays made up almost half the total number of complaints lodged with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) in the first half of 2016.

HSBC has fallen into last place in our latest banking poll with just 38% of its current account customers rating it 'great' for customer service, while First Direct has extended its six-year reign at the top of the table with 91% giving it the thumbs up.