POUND NOTES
FALL FOR FIXED-RATE BONDS
AVERAGE one-year fixed bond rates fell in April – when previously this year so far rates had been increasing – according to analysis from Moneyfacts.co. uk of deals currently on the market. The average one-year fixed-rate bond paid 1.42% in April, down from 1.47% in March – and Moneyfacts says it’s the biggest month-on-month decrease since September 2016.
BANKS’ IT FAILURES ‘HAUNT CONSUMERS’ CREDIT REPORTS’
NEARLY two-thirds of people who checked their credit report after a bank IT failure said they uncovered errors that were not their fault, a survey suggests.
Some 64% of consumers who inspected their report after an IT failure said they found mistakes that could impact their creditworthiness, including missed payments that were not their fault, according to credit checking service Clearscore.
A spokeswoman for UK Finance says: “The banking industry is committed to providing the best possible service, ensuring customers are able to access and manage their money. If a customer identifies any anomalies on their credit report, they should contact the relevant lender or the credit reference agency as soon as possible, so that their query can be investigated and rectified where appropriate.”
NEW COINS CELEBRATE QUEEN VICTORIA’S ANNIVERSARY
THE 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth is being celebrated with the launch of new commemorative coins.
The coins are not entering general circulation, and are available to buy from the Royal Mint’s website. Prices start at £13 for a brilliant uncirculated £5 denomination version, above, and go up to £49,995 for those whose budgets will stretch to a £1,000 denomination gold proof kilo commemorative coin measuring 10 centimetres in diameter. May 24 will mark the 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birth.
TSB UNVEILS NEW ‘FRAUD REFUND GUARANTEE’
TSB has announced a new “fraud refund guarantee”.
The bank has committed to covering customers against all types of transactional fraud losses, including cases where customers are tricked into authorising payments to fraudsters. The guarantee applies to fraud losses incurred on or after Sunday, April 14.