POUND NOTES

Financial fact:

Even though the round £1 coin has stopped being legal tender after October 15, there are still places where you can hand it in.

Major banks and building societies have said they will continue accepting deposits of the round pound from their customers.

You also deposit them into any of your usual high street bank accounts through the Post Office.

Insurers on hand to help those affected by storm Ophelia:

Home and business owners affected by Storm Ophelia are being urged not to put themselves at risk and to contact their insurer as soon as possible.

Alastair Ross, head of public policy for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland at the Association of British Insurers (ABI), said firms will be geared up to help customers who have suffered storm damage recover as quickly as possible.

He said: “Home, business and comprehensive motor policies will cover storm damage.

“Home insurance will offer emergency temporary accommodation if needed.”

Households facing bigger energy bills:

Households are being reminded to shop around for a better gas and electricity deal as temperatures fall.

GoCompare Energy says standard variable rates (SVRs) are the most common form of default energy tariff that people who do not switch will end up on – and they can be hundreds of pounds more expensive than the best deals on the market.

Ben Wilson from GoCompare Energy, says: “Energy suppliers announced their price increases in the spring and summer, when the weather was warming up and the big winter bills had been dealt with, so there’s a good chance that millions of people would have done nothing about them.

“By now, many of us have probably forgotten just how big some of these price increases were.”

Building society launches ‘autism friendly hours’:

Nationwide Building Society is trialling autism friendly hours in branches to make the experience as comfortable and convenient as possible.

Designated quiet periods, reduced background noise and greater availability of office space are to be offered to create a more welcoming environment for autistic people.

The initiative, which is being piloted in Worcestershire, is supported by the National Autistic Society and will be rolled out across the Society’s entire branch network if successful.