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Bank Accounts Latest News Proposed new rules on packaged bank accounts will protect consumers Proposed new rules on packaged bank accounts will protect consumers
The Financial Services Authority (FSA) wants to tighten controls on accounts with monthly fees.
Packaged bank accounts tend to include add-ons such as travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and breakdown cover for a monthly fee ranging between £6.50 and £40. They have been under review recently as banks are not believed to be doing enough to ensure that the products are suitable for the customer.
According to financial data analysts Defaqto, the number of packaged accounts on the market has more than doubled in five years and almost one in five active adult accounts in the UK is packaged.
Among the FSA's planned proposals is for banks and building societies who sell these accounts to ensure that customers require the additional policies and that they are adequately covered by them. It is estimated that one third of consumers with packaged accounts make no use of the additional benefits, and that some may not be covered by the policies.
Sheila Nicoll, the FSA's policy director, said: "For some people, packaged accounts represent good value and convenience. But in other cases, customers may find that the insurance cover they have paid for is useless.
"We are concerned that it may be too easy at the moment for firms to sell customers something they do not understand or need. We want to make sure that packaged accounts are only being sold to customers who have actively decided it is the right product for them."
PricewaterhouseCoopers predicts that regulation to ensure packaged bank accounts are suitable for customers' needs will lead to a simplified product, and a forced drop in revenue from such account. David Morey, a PwC director, described packaged accounts as "a significant income generator in the UK". "The FSA's proposals will help to better define expectations for banks selling these accounts", he added.
Packaged accounts do hold the advantage of allowing certain clients the opportunity for insurance that is otherwise quite difficult to obtain. But were this type of account to partially disband, considerable attention would towards free bank accounts and separate insurance products.
Why not check out Which4U's comparison tables on bank accounts and insurance to see if you can find the best value from your products.
By Kate Guthrie
Comments (2)
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A JORDAN 2012-04-05 13:36:13I HAVE A PACKAGED ACCOUNT WITH THE HALIFAX.THIS ACCOUNT INCLUDS TRAVEL INSURANCE WHICH, IS OF NO BENEFIT TO ME ON ACCOUNT OF MY AGE. I AM STILL CHARGED THE SAME FEE AS ANY ONE ELSE THOUGH.THIS IS A RIP OFF
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Keith [Editor] 2012-04-11 13:56:07A justifiably impassioned case there - especially when some accounts, such as the Nationwide, offer travel insurance on their current accounts without charge.
If you believe that you were mis-sold this account, or that it was imposed upon you, you can apply for compensation by complaining to your bank in the first instance, and then by using the free Ombudsman service if the complaint is not handled satisfactorily.
Top 5 Current Accounts
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Santander 123 Current Account
- The New 123 Current Account pays cashback on household direct debits
- 1% cashback on water and council tax
- 2% cashback on electricity and gas
- 3% cashback on mobile, home phone, broadband and paid for TV packages
- New 123 Current Account pays also pays in-credit interest
- 1% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £1,000 or over
- 2% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £2,000 or over
- 3% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £3,000 or over (up to £20,000)
- You are required to pay £2 a month (equates to 6p per day)
- Your overdraft fee will be 19.9% EAR plus an unauthorised fee of £1 per day.
- Get a cheque book and a Visa Debit card. You can use your Visa Debit card in shops wherever you see the Visa symbol and at virtually every cash machine in the UK and many worldwide. It also acts as a £100 cheque guarantee card
- Access to your money 24 hours a day 7 days a week through our e-banking service, 750+ branches, 24-hour telephone banking service, LINK cash machine network or even by post
- You must setup a minimum of 2 active direct debits
- You must deposit at least £500 per month
- This account is open to NEW and EXISTING Santander customers aged 18 and above (must be UK resident)
Natwest Select
- Free day-to-day banking without subscription charges
- Overdraft available subject to eligibility, giving your finances some breathing space
- Chequebook available subject to eligibility; handy when cash or cards aren't convenient
- Monthly statements with all your transactions and your balance - by post or online. Or pick up a mini-statement from our cash machines
The Co-operative Current Account Plus
- ***You must deposit at least £800 per month***
- Interest on all balances tracks at 0.5% below the Bank of England Base Rate, guaranteed for the life of your Current Account.
- UK call centres open 24/7, 365 days a year
- Fee-free £200 overdraft facility
- Dedicated switching service
Halifax Reward Current A/c
- Halifax will give you £5 each month you pay in £1,000, whether you're in credit or overdrawn.
- This account offers a flexible 0% Overdraft facility:
- - £1 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
- - £2 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft over £2,500
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- A Halifax Visa debit card
- Access to the extensive branch Network
- 24/7 Online Banking Access
- The Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account (URCA) product has been awarded a Defaqto 5* award for the Mobile Phone Insurance aspect of its reward offering. - Defaqto are completely independent, ensuring an unbiased product view.
Barclays Bank Account
- A carbon neutral debit card (subject to status).
- Online Banking – do your banking from home (subject to registration).
- Telephone Banking – pay bills and more (subject to registration).
- A network of over 1,700 branches.
- Draw on cheques paid in before they clear (subject to status and limit).
- An overdraft: 19.3% interest per annum (variable).
- Representative Example: Up to £5,000 19.3% interest p.a. (variable)
- Subject to status and application. So the amount offered may be different to that shown on the example. Overdrafts are repayable on demand.
- Barclays £2,500 Personal Reserve Option:
- - One Reserve Usage Fee of £22 for each five consecutive working day period from the day you start using your Reserve.
- - No interest payments on your Reserve balance.
- - Representative Example: 0% interest per annum (variable). Reserve Limit £2,500. One reserve usage fee of £22 for each five consecutive working day period from the day you start using your reserve. Personal reserve is subject to status and application and repayable on demand.
- - The Reserve is repayable on demand. The maximum Reserve is £2500, subject to status.
- - One Returned Transaction Fee of £8 for each returned transaction where you exceed your Reserve.
- - One Guaranteed Transaction Fee of £8 for each guaranteed payment made where you exceed your Reserve.
RBS Select
- Free everyday banking - no monthly subscription charges.
- No arrangement or renewal fees - on overdrafts up to £15,000. And pay no interest on agreed overdrafts of up to £100.
- Save on your mortgage - use your Interest Paying Current Account balance to save money with our Offset Service.
- Easy access to your money - your debit card gives you access to almost every cash machine in the UK. You can also pay for goods and services wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
- Online banking - manage your money 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with our telephone and internet banking services. (Except for short periods of essential maintenance.)
- Overseas money - get money in local currency at cash machines and buy goods wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
- Statements - monthly statements list all transactions and your current balance. You can also get mini-statements from any cash machine.
Natwest Advantage Gold
- Pay £12.50 per month and get the following benefits:
- Green Flag car breakdown cover - even on your driveway
- Mobile phone insurance – including all smartphones
- Annual worldwide travel insurance - Members and their partners aged 70 years and over must pay an additional annual premium of £50
- Travel benefits – discounts on holidays, flights and hotels
Nationwide Current Account
- VISA debit card with every account
- Free travel insurance: multi-trip European cover worth up to £70* (conditions apply)
- Manage your account online with an excellent internet banking service.
- Three-month interest-free overdraft when you switch to FlexAccount
- Free day to day banking
- Voted Best Overall Online Provider 2009 by Your Money
Card One Banking Guaranteed Bank Account
- CardOneBanking offers the following:
- Guaranteed Acceptance
- Sortcode & Account Number
- Have your salary deposited into this account
- Pay money in at any Post Office or high street branch
- Prepaid MasterCard card
- Create Standing Orders but you can not set up Direct Debits with this account.
- 24 hour account management by Phone, Text and Online Banking
- Dedicated Account Manager
- NO OPENING FEE
- NO OVERDRAFT FACILITY – No risk of going overdrawn
- NO EXTRA CHARGES – No charges for bounced standing orders
- NO CREDIT CHECKS! – Guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your past credit
- YOU must be 18+ and UK resident
- £12.50 monthly management fee
Think Money Guaranteed Bank Account
- Think Banking offers the following:
- Guaranteed Acceptance
- Sortcode & Account Number
- Have your salary deposited into this account
- Pay money in at any Post Office or high street branch
- Prepaid MasterCard card
- Create Standing Orders but you can not set up Direct Debits with this account.
- 24 hour account management by Phone, Text and Online Banking
- Dedicated Account Manager
- Opening fee of £25 (£30 for a joint account)
- NO OVERDRAFT FACILITY – No risk of going overdrawn
- NO EXTRA CHARGES – No charges for bounced standing orders
- NO CREDIT CHECKS! – Guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your past credit
- YOU must be 18+ and UK resident
- £14.50 monthly management fee (£19.50 for joint account customers)
