Mortgage Strategy
29 June 2009

  • Bailouts and the blame game

    1 Jul 2009

    Given that Dunfermline Building Society had just done a passable imitation of a failed mortgage bank and been swallowed up by the mighty Nationwide and the press was reporting the imminent demise of West Bromwich Building Society for similar afflictions, the mood of delegates at the Building Societies Association's annual conference at Harrogate in May was surprisingly upbeat.

  • 28% Of Rock loans now negative

    29 Jun 2009

    At least 86,000 prime Northern Rock borrowers are in negative equity, says Fitch Ratings.

  • 60 Seconds with.....Ashraf Piranie

    29 Jun 2009

    You were formerly joint managing director of the Islamic Bank of Great Britain so What lured you to the mutual sector in 2007?I have believed in the principles of mutuality for a long time. I achieved a lot at the Islamic Bank but the Nottingham offered an opportunity to work in a business that straddles mortgages, savings, estate agency and financial planning.

  • A little-known law that protects tenants

    29 Jun 2009

    I have for some time said that the buy-to-let market needs to be regulated and recent events in the landlord market have done nothing to change that view.

  • A&L launches three-year fix at 5.99%

    29 Jun 2009

    Alliance & Leicester has launched a three-year fixed rate deal for remortgage clients of 5.99% at 85% LTV.

  • Abbey appoints new head of mortgage development

    30 Jun 2009

    Abbey for Intermediaries' head of mortgage and insurance development Steve Best is to retire this month, with Graham Seller taking over his role.

  • Abbey backlogs are down to staffing issues, not brokers

    29 Jun 2009

    I'd like to comment on the recent article concerning Abbey's pledge to toughen up its packaging terms, in which the lender states that applications that do not meet the required standard will be declined and that decision will be final (Mortgage Strategy Online June 23).

  • Abbey CEO calls for punitive rates for state-backed banks

    30 Jun 2009

    Abbey's chief executive officer Antonio Horta-Osorio has today called for any state support provided to UK banks to be supplied at a punitive rate so as not to drive "non-commercial behaviour".

  • Alliance set up by 18 advisers

    29 Jun 2009

    Equity release advisers have joined forces to launch the Independent Equity Release Adviser Alliance.

  • Arrears rocket but lenders hang fire on repossessing properties

    29 Jun 2009

    The Council of Mortgage Lenders has slashed its yearly repossession forecast by 10,000, but commentators are warning that arrears are still on the up.

  • ASA bans claims firm text message

    29 Jun 2009

    Claim Management UK has become the second claims management firm in a week to have a complaint against it upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority.

  • Average five-year deal hits 6%

    29 Jun 2009

    The average five-year fixed rate deal has hit 6% making it the most expensive since December, data from Moneyfacts reveals.

  • BBA Conference: Cable hits out at Asset Protection Scheme

    30 Jun 2009

    Liberal Democrat shadow chancellor Vince Cable has hit out at the Asset Protection Scheme as an open ended risk to taxpayers.

  • BBA Conference: Turner wary on breaking up big banks

    30 Jun 2009

    Lord Adair Turner, chairman of the Financial Services Authority, has warned that the idea of breaking up large banks that pose a risk to financial stability cannot be ruled out.

  • BBA urges FSA not to damage UK banks' competitiveness

    1 Jul 2009

    The British Bankers' Association has warned the FSA that proposing new banking laws in isolation from the global economy could damage Britain's competitiveness.

  • BBA warns of lending constraints

    30 Jun 2009

    Speaking at the British Bankers Association today, Angela Knight, chief executive of the association says government intervention could further constrain banks' lending.

  • BBA warns of lending constraints

    30 Jun 2009

    Speaking at the British Bankers Association today, Angela Knight, chief executive of the association says government intervention could further constrain banks' lending.

  • Big issues

    29 Jun 2009

    Should self-cert be scrapped? That's just one of the issues on the agenda at the Council of Mortgage Lenders' conference on mortgage regulation in two weeks' time.

  • Bottle of wine for Goldsmith Williams brokers

    1 Jul 2009

    Goldsmith Williams is offering brokers a free bottle of wine to celebrate the law firm’s 25th anniversary.

  • Branching out is the key to growing

    29 Jun 2009

    While we all want to believe that equity release can be a business saviour in the current climate, many are seeing through the smokescreen and realising this may not be so.

  • Brokers told to beware dubious claims firms

    29 Jun 2009

    The Office of Fair Trading has warned brokers not to be duped by bogus claims management firms offering to buy unsecured credit direct from consumers.

  • Business optimism at two-year high

    29 Jun 2009

    Optimism among financial services firms is at its highest for the first time in two years but challenges lie ahead, the latest business research shows.

  • Buy-to-let is ahead of the game

    1 Jul 2009

    I don't think anyone could sensibly argue that the buy-to-let sector has not suffered to the same extent as the wider residential mortgage market as a result of the downturn. In fact, it's possible that it has suffered more.

  • Cake today risks no bread tomorrow

    29 Jun 2009

    In recession-hit Britain consumers are turning to sweet treats to beat the credit crunch blues.

  • Chartwell moves to bigger office in Epsom and looks to recruit

    29 Jun 2009

    Chartwell Funding is forging ahead with its expansion plans and has moved to a larger office in Epsom.

  • CHL Mortgages notes arrears improvement

    29 Jun 2009

    CHL Mortgages says it has seen an improvement in arrears across its buy-to-let and residential books.

  • Clients going direct can be good news

    29 Jun 2009

    It was great to read Russ Stein's letter in the June 22 issue of Mortgage Strategy in which he said he was happy for clients to go direct to lenders and that he earned far more through life commissions.

  • Competition worries over state aid banks

    30 Jun 2009

    The European Commission’s competition chief has revealed it is in talks with the government on whether Royal Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, and Northern Rock are so big they flout competition rules.

  • Connells appointed as Exact panel manager

    1 Jul 2009

    Connells Survey & Valuation has been appointed as the panel manager for Exact to provide valuations and panel management services across Exact’s business.

  • Contracts may be rewritten to force lenders to be flexible on arrears

    29 Jun 2009

    Terms used in securitisation covenants could be changed to force lenders to be more flexible with struggling borrowers in the wake of four companies being referred to the Financial Services Authority's enforcement division for poor arrears handling.

  • Countdown begins for rent-back landlords

    1 Jul 2009

    Landlords operating in the sale-and-rent-back market have only four weeks from today to apply for permission from the Financial Services Authority.

  • Ecompli offers to help rent-back firms

    30 Jun 2009

    Lancashire based compliance company Ecompli is offering support to firms who want to apply for interim permission so they can continue to carry out sale-and-rent-back activities.

  • Economy needs a collegiate approach

    29 Jun 2009

    Now that the full extent of the UK's banking failure seems to have been revealed, it's heart warming to see how this crisis has aligned the thinking of the chancellor and Bank of England governor.

  • eGateway appoints business development director

    2 Jul 2009

    eGateway has appointed Martin Selby as a business development director covering the South West of England and South Wales.

  • Equity release is a long-term business

    29 Jun 2009

    Having thought about selling and moving to a cheaper property, many clients realise the extent of the emotion that is involved with their home and associated financial decisions.

  • Expect more fines for arrears firms

    29 Jun 2009

    The Financial Services Authority last week issued a stark warning to third party administrators and specialist lenders that arrears management standards were not good enough.

  • Fantasy lottery win fueling property searches

    3 Jul 2009

    A poll by housing portal Propertylive.co.uk found that half of people looking for a dream property on the basis that they win the lottery.

  • Farewell to jacko

    29 Jun 2009

    Last week saw the passing of a legend when King of Pop Michael Jackson died of a cardiac arrest.

  • Fee or free, it's clients' choice

    29 Jun 2009

    Mortgage Strategy's straw poll this week is a clear sign of how the credit crunch has shifted opinion on the subject of fees. With more than 1,600 brokers voting, 53% say they now charge fees for advice - a radical change from the days when most were remunerated by proc fees.

  • Fewer broker products as direct deals rise

    29 Jun 2009

    TrigoldCrystal's product index shows the number of live mortgage deals available to brokers in May fell to 2,673, while direct deals were up.

  • Final offer

    29 Jun 2009

    The sun in shining, the strawberries are plump and Sir Cliff Richard is waiting in the wings so it can only mean one thing - Wimbledon.

  • Fixed rates slump 82% in a year

    2 Jul 2009

    The number of fixed rate deals available in June has plummeted 82% from the number available at the same time last year.

  • Focussing on the meaning of D-Day

    1 Jul 2009

    June 6 was in Her Majesty's diary as D-Day, and what else could that stand for but Derby day?

  • Former Chase UK compliance boss is banned by FSA

    29 Jun 2009

    The Financial Services Authority has banned the former compliance director of Chase UK after he admitted the firm did not assess borrowers' affordability until mid-2007.

  • FSA bans broker for fraud

    3 Jul 2009

    The Financial Services Authority has banned Hornchurch-based mortgage broker Abdul Karim for submitting a mortgage application for himself that was based on false information about his income.

  • FSA fines insurance broker director

    2 Jul 2009

    The Financial Services Authority has fined Richard Holmes, a director of insurance broker AIF Limited, £20,020 for control failings in relation to an appointed representative firm.

  • FSA lender probe is warning to all of us

    29 Jun 2009

    The news that the Financial Services Authority is investigating four specialist lenders and servicers for their handling of mortgage arrears will be of little surprise to those who looked on aghast at some of the mortgages originated during the boom years.

  • FSA unveils radical restructure

    2 Jul 2009

    The Financial Services Authority is integrating its enforcement and financial crime sectors to form one division under director Margaret Cole, as part of a wider internal restructure.

  • Going, going gone - but not to MPs

    1 Jul 2009

    With Westminster still reeling from the expenses scandal fixtures and fittings from the House of Lords are to be auctioned off, which should give us commoners an insight into how members of the upper House squander our money.

  • Government consults on tax code of practice

    29 Jun 2009

    The government is consulting on a tax code of practice for banks to adopt in order to clamp down on bank tax avoidance.

  • Gross lending by societies falls to £1.52bn

    29 Jun 2009

    Gross mortgage lending by building societies fell to £1.52bn in May, down from £3.53bn at the same time last year.

  • Gross lending by societies falls to £1.52bn

    30 Jun 2009

    Gross mortgage lending by building societies fell to £1.52bn in May, down from £3.53bn at the same time last year.

  • Gummer's goof

    29 Jun 2009

    Mole was amused to hear that the latest Parliamentary expenses scandal involves none other than Association of Mortgage Intermediaries chairman John Gummer.

  • Halifax cuts proc fees on transfers and introduces LTV differentials

    29 Jun 2009

    Halifax has cut its proc fee for further advances and product transfers, and introduced differentials on proc fees according to LTV.

  • Help firms and help yourself

    1 Jul 2009

    Lending in the commercial property sector in the past 10 years is estimated to have increased from £50bn to £225bn, of which it is believed that around 20% is already due for repayment with a further £28bn falling due next year.

  • Hodge Lifetime offers free reversion surveys

    1 Jul 2009

    Hodge Lifetime is offering free surveys for home reversion clients choosing the provider’s Shared Growth Option.

  • House prices rise 0.9%

    30 Jun 2009

    House prices rose by 0.9% in June, the third rise in the past four months, shows the latest survey from the Nationwide.

  • House prices rise 0.9%

    30 Jun 2009

    House prices rose by 0.9% in June, the third rise in the past four months, shows the latest survey from the Nationwide.

  • Housing equity withdrawal totals -£23.5bn over the last year

    4 Jul 2009

    The Bank of England announced yesterday that Housing Equity Withdrawal in the first quarter of 2009 was -£8.1bn.

  • How the players were played

    1 Jul 2009

    Twenty years ago this month building society Abbey National, as it was then known, converted into a mortgage bank having persuaded its members to vote for the move by promising them a big chunk of shares in the new company.

  • IMLA supports specialist lenders after FSA move

    1 Jul 2009

    The Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association has spoken out in support of specialist lenders and servicers following the Financial Services Authority's decision to probe four firms over their handling of mortgages in arrears.

  • IntelliFlo unveils whole-of-market sourcing system

    29 Jun 2009

    The 6,000 users of IntelliFlo's point-of-sale system Intelligent Office now have access to whole-of-market mortgage sourcing via a system developed with DPR Consulting.

  • It's time you made protection personal

    29 Jun 2009

    The protection gap of £2.3trillion for life assurance and £190bn for income protection are figures we all hear bandied about across the industry. If nothing else, they highlight opportunities for advisers in the protection market.

  • Joined-up thinking

    29 Jun 2009

    What does The Charlbury Group do?

  • Just get it right the first time

    29 Jun 2009

    One strike and you're out - that's the message from Abbey as it tries to get to grips with mortgage applications not being filled out correctly.

  • King says Bank is like a church whose sermons are ignored

    1 Jul 2009

    The governor of the Bank of England has likened the limited powers of the Bank to a church that delivers sermons and organises burials.

  • L&G club members vote against dual pricing

    29 Jun 2009

    Members of the Legal & General Mortgage Club have voted against dual pricing, arguing that if credit is restricted lenders should raise pricing in all channels.

  • L&G reports increased interest in fixed rates

    29 Jun 2009

    Legal & General says that 87% of residential borrowers who had products sourced via its mortgage club chose fixed rates in Q2 2009 compared with 71% in Q1.

  • Leadbay allows website access by mobile phone

    29 Jun 2009

    Leadbay has made its website mobile-friendly so brokers can access leads more easily. Brokers can now log into their accounts and check on the progress of leads by mobile phone.

  • Legal hurdles could block sub-prime lenders from rescue scheme

    30 Jun 2009

    Which? is calling on the Financial Services Authority to investigate whether legal hurdles are preventing sub-prime lenders from signing up to the Homeowners Mortgage Support Scheme.

  • Lenders' complex deals are good news for brokers

    29 Jun 2009

    When Abbey announced that some 65% of its mortgage applications were not completed correctly there was the expected broker outcry.

  • Lenders must treat clients in arrears with understanding

    29 Jun 2009

    I was intrigued to read that the Financial Services Authority was placing four lenders and third party administrators in enforcement (Mortgage Strategy Online June 22).

  • Lenders to offer more high LTV deals

    2 Jul 2009

    Lenders expect to offer around 18% more high LTV deals over the next three months, the Bank of England’s Credit Conditions Survey shows.

  • Lib Dem bigwig hurries to harry Hornby

    1 Jul 2009

    The Liberal Democrats weren't slow to put the boot in when they heard the news that chemist Alliance Boots was in talks with former HBOS boss Andy Hornby, with a view to appointing him as chief executive.

  • Lloyds Banking Group to shed 2,100 jobs

    30 Jun 2009

    Lloyds Banking Group has announced a number of organisational changes within its group operations and wholesale divisions, which will result in the loss of 2,100 jobs.

  • Lord Turner to chair financial stability committee

    30 Jun 2009

    Lord Adair Turner has been appointed chairman of the Financial Stability Board’s Standing Committee for Supervisory and Regulatory Co-operation.

  • Lord Turner to chair financial stability committee

    29 Jun 2009

    Lord Adair Turner has been appointed chairman of the Financial Stability Board’s Standing Committee for Supervisory and Regulatory Co-operation.

  • LV=extends unemployment cover offer

    3 Jul 2009

    LV= has again extended its offer to remove the initial 60 day unemployment claim exclusion for customers who replace their existing unemployment cover with LV=’s mortgage and lifestyle protection cover.

  • Marketwatch 29/06/2009

    29 Jun 2009

    Swaps had a mixed week. While five-year swaps crept up slightly, shorter term swaps fell for the second week in a row as they settled back following their monster increases of the past few weeks.

  • Moody's downgrades Lloyds TSB rating to C

    29 Jun 2009

    Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the financial strength rating of Lloyds TSB from C+ to C and placed it on a negative ratings outlook.

  • Moody's trims Lloyds TSB's strength rating

    1 Jul 2009

    Moody's Investors Service has downgraded the financial strength rating of Lloyds TSB by one notch from C+ to C and placed the lender on a negative ratings outlook.

  • More surveyors seeing rent declines, says RICS

    29 Jun 2009

    More surveyors are reporting a fall in rents than at any time in the past 10 years, according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.

  • Mortgage fraud rockets

    2 Jul 2009

    BDO Stoy Hayward's annual Fraud Track report shows the rate of fraud growth nearly doubled last year with mortgage and commercial fraud rocketing.

  • Mortgage Rescue Scheme helps just six

    30 Jun 2009

    Only six homeowners were offered help by the government’s Mortgage Rescue Scheme from January to May this year, figures out today show.

  • Mortgage servicing systems branded outdated

    1 Jul 2009

    The majority of mortgage servicing in the UK is outdated and no longer up to scratch, Phoebus Software claims.

  • Movers and shakers

    1 Jul 2009

    Adam Posen to replace Tim Besely on Monetary Policy CommitteeChancellor Alistair Darling has announced that Adam Posen has been appointed to succeed Tim Besley as an external member on the Monetary Policy Committee.

  • MP Committee to hear evidence from NLA

    29 Jun 2009

    The National Landlords Association is to give evidence to the Treasury Select Committee on the buy-to-let market tomorrow.

  • Mutuals back on councils' radar

    1 Jul 2009

    For some months the building society community has been under concerted attack.

  • Nationwide’s 'real' house price index recorded an increase of 1.6% in June

    3 Jul 2009

    Nationwide’s “Real” House price Index recorded an increase of 1.6% in June, compared to the “doctored”, or seasonally adjusted, figure of + 0.9%.

  • Nationwide’s 'real' house price index recorded an increase of 1.6% in June

    3 Jul 2009

    Nationwide’s “Real” House price Index recorded an increase of 1.6% in June, compared to the “doctored”, or seasonally adjusted, figure of + 0.9%.

  • New EU credit rules could be in all our interests

    29 Jun 2009

    The European Union Consumer Credit Directive, a maximum harmonisation legislation passed by the European Parliament in May 2008, is in the process of being incorporated into UK law, with the deadline for its implementation June 10 2010.

  • Northern Rock's capital position below minimum

    2 Jul 2009

    Northern Rock has revealed it is operating with less base capital than is required of the lender by the Financial Services Authority.

  • Nottingham sees boost in sales

    30 Jun 2009

    The Nottingham Building Society's estate agency business has recorded its best sales performance for more than two years.

  • Nottingham sees boost in sales

    30 Jun 2009

    The Nottingham Building Society's estate agency business has recorded its best sales performance for more than two years.

  • Old law that favours lenders is unfair on today's borrowers

    29 Jun 2009

    I was interested to read about four firms being investigated over arrears management.

  • Paterson should look at the way banks gambled their customers' money away

    29 Jun 2009

    Kevin Paterson, in his column in the June 22 issue of Mortgage Strategy, talks about the "void of personal responsibility" and "lack of moral accountability" of those who dare to challenge credit card and loan providers and seek to have their debts legally written off due to what he calls technicalities.

  • Pay and save deals could tempt FTBs back to the market

    29 Jun 2009

    With lenders struggling to attract savers and offering attractive terms to new borrowers I've come up with something they could offer first-time buyers.

  • Paymentshield appoints new chief executive

    30 Jun 2009

    Tim Johnson, chief executive of Cullum Capital Ventures has been appointed the new chief executive of Paymentshield, replacing Stuart Pender.

  • Pink adds Promise to secured panel

    1 Jul 2009

    Pink Home Loans has appointed Promise Solutions to its panel for secured loans, allowing brokers to source and submit secured and unsecured business.

  • PMS top brass left in the dark over Sesame deal

    1 Jul 2009

    The mortgage industry knew of the proposed deal between Sesame and Bankhall long before PMS managing director John Malone, industry sources have revealed.

  • Poll shows 53% of brokers now charge fees for advice

    29 Jun 2009

    An exclusive Mortgage Strategy poll has revealed that 53% of mortgage brokers are charging fees for advice.

  • Promise signs up over 7,500 brokers

    30 Jun 2009

    Secured loan master broker Promise Solutions has signed up over 7,500 brokers to use it’s loan sourcing and packaging service.

  • Property Spotlight: Leeds

    29 Jun 2009

    The AreaLeeds is the biggest and most important town in Yorkshire, according to Propertyinvesting.net. It forms a focal point for the investment and service industries.

  • Proving that clarity and consistency are bestProving that clarity and consistency are best

    1 Jul 2009

    I last interviewed Mark Parsons, managing director of home finance at Barclays, in April 2007. Northern Rock had still to fail and the world of banking and housing finance had yet to unravel.

  • Purchase buy-to-let loans outweigh remortgages

    29 Jun 2009

    The level of purchase buy-to-let loans at Mortgages for Business has increased steadily over the last six months, signalling that landlords are looking to cash in on house price lows.

  • Purchase loans up by £300m in May

    29 Jun 2009

    The value of purchase loans taken out by homeowners swelled from £5.1bn in April to £5.4bn in May, according to the latest figures from the Bank of England.

  • RBS IP launches shared equity broker exclusives

    3 Jul 2009

    Royal Bank of Scotland Intermediary Partners has launched three shared equity mortgages exclusively for brokers.

  • Reasonably priced lending key to recovery, says Myners

    30 Jun 2009

    City minister Lord Myners has warned banks that they would "not be forgiven for biting the hand that feeds them" and that the key to any recovery in the economy was reasonably priced lending.

  • Recent events prove we're still a nation divided

    29 Jun 2009

    After all that's happened over the last two years, after all that's been said and written, I found myself wondering last week whether anyone has learnt anything from it all.

  • Regulator spent 36m on enforcement in 2008/09

    29 Jun 2009

    The Financial Services Authority footed an enforcement bill of 35.8m during 2008/09.

  • Relationships key to rebuilding mortgage market

    29 Jun 2009

    I've just completed a series of roadshows around the UK and the feedback I got from our mortgage brokers was that business is looking up.

  • Rent-back heading in right direction

    29 Jun 2009

    The Financial Services Authority's recent announcement that the sale-and-rent-back market is to be regulated shows it has acknowledged the need to take control of this sector.

  • Revolving door shows PM lacks focus on housing

    1 Jul 2009

    Proof, if it were needed, of how low housing now is on Prime Minister Gordon Brown's list of priorities came recently with the appointment of John Healey as housing minister.

  • Rise and fall of the State society

    29 Jun 2009

    Now that we have a fistful of state banks it's worth recounting the fate of the State Building Society which fell from grace in 1959 due to a major scandal and ended up being subsumed into the Abbey National Building Society.

  • Rising sales and falling supply lead to house prices levelling out in June

    29 Jun 2009

    House prices ground to a standstill in June as the number of new buyers increased, the latest housing market survey from Hometrack reveals.

  • Select & Protect launches MPPI product

    3 Jul 2009

    Select & Protect has launched a mortgage payment protection insurance for brokers which can be sold either as a standalone product or alongside the mortgage.

  • Service will improve, says Abbey

    29 Jun 2009

    Abbey for Intermediaries has pledged that brokers will see an immediate improvement in service as a result of the guidelines it has drawn up on how to package cases.

  • Sesame in talks to buy PMS

    30 Jun 2009

    Sesame has confirmed that it is in talks with Skandia UK over the potential acquisition of Bankhall and PMS.

  • Simon Ellis appointed to head FSSC review

    1 Jul 2009

    Simon Ellis has been appointed to lead a comprehensive review into the future role of the Financial Services Skills Council, as the FSSC chief executive reveals she is to step down in September.

  • Smart technology will cut loan fraud

    29 Jun 2009

    Another day and another mortgage fraud case hits the headlines. The latest focusses on a £10m fraud case caused by a single woman who obtained loans for six properties via two high street lenders using false identities.

  • Societies may face buy-to-let curbs

    1 Jul 2009

    Some building societies may face tough curbs on their lending and buy-to-let business under Financial Services Authority proposals.

  • Sold board activity points to upturn

    2 Jul 2009

    Estate agents are seeing positive signs of an upturn with the number of sold boards being instructed climbing to its highest level for 14 months.

  • Some B2L loans are used to fund rent-back deals, lenders warned

    29 Jun 2009

    Lenders are being warned that some borrowers are using buy-to-let mortgages to fraudulently fund their sale-and-rent back portfolios.

  • Tempers rise with mortgage rates

    1 Jul 2009

    Evidence from financial comparison website Moneysupermarket.com seems to indicate that while the Bank of England base rate has been frozen at 0.5% lenders have been increasing their average mortgage rates.

  • Tesco and Virgin linked to Northern Rock sale

    1 Jul 2009

    Tesco and Virgin are rumoured to be interested in buying up nationalised bank Northern Rock, the Times has reported.

  • The building blocks of a life in surveying

    29 Jun 2009

    I never really wanted to be a surveyor and in my early years I was an assistant golf professional, a part-time butcher and head barman at Stoke's largest gay pub.

  • The month at a glance

    1 Jul 2009

    As the first month of summer began the banking world was greeted with the news that the mighty Lloyds Banking Group was to streamline its broker offering by channelling all business via Birmingham Midshires, Cheltenham & Gloucester, Halifax and Scottish Widows Bank.

  • This government could learn from a 1950s society scandal

    1 Jul 2009

    Now we have a fistful of state lenders it's worth recounting the fate of the State Building Society. Yes, this country really did once have a lender of that name.

  • Tide may be starting to turn

    1 Jul 2009

    The Lending Strategy round table discussion that took place following the Building Societies Association's annual conference in May provoked some interesting discussions.

  • Time for action, not more words

    1 Jul 2009

    It seems baseball manager Yogi Berra was right after all - the future ain't what it used to be. While there is room for optimism, the economic goalposts have shifted permanently.

  • TMA partners with RPS on rent-back

    1 Jul 2009

    The Mortgage Alliance has become the first directly authorised distribution channel to partner with sale-and-rent-back specialist Residential Property Solutions.

  • Toned toner

    29 Jun 2009

    Features editor Christine Toner is breaking the habit of a lifetime next month and taking part in a form of sport. The hapless hack, who has managed to break most of her bones in the past few years, is taking part in the Race for Life in aid of Cancer Research UK on July 19.

  • Tony Batchelder joins Knight Frank Finance

    29 Jun 2009

    Tony Batchelder, former senior BDM at Halifax Intermediaries, has joined Knight Frank Finance as business planning manager.

  • Top Irish lenders agree code on mortgage arrears

    1 Jul 2009

    Leading banks in the Irish Republic have signed up to a code that provides a breathing space for home owners struggling with their mortgage repayments.

  • Trackers not offering long-term value

    29 Jun 2009

    Trackers may not represent the best deal over the long-term after factoring in predicted base rate rises, warns Moneysupermarket.com.

  • Trying to minimise dual pricing impact

    29 Jun 2009

    We all know that dual pricing is one of the most contentious issues in today's broker marketplace.

  • Unscrupulous letting agents are ripping consumers off

    29 Jun 2009

    The lettings market is thriving on the back of depressed property sales and a lack of liquidity as more people are choosing to rent rather than buy.

  • Unwelcome advice

    29 Jun 2009

    When you're sitting in the sun with a cold beer and a burger watching the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button show what they're made of on the race track, would you fancy receiving a spot of financial advice?

  • Walter Merricks steps down

    30 Jun 2009

    Walter Merricks, chief ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service is stepping down after ten years in the post.

  • Walter Merricks steps down

    30 Jun 2009

    Walter Merricks, chief ombudsman at the Financial Ombudsman Service is stepping down after ten years in the post.

  • West Brom picks E.surv to manage valuations

    29 Jun 2009

    E.surv has been appointed by West Bromwich to manage its valuation requirements.

  • When shoots aren't so green

    1 Jul 2009

    In recent weeks there has been a focus on looking for signals of economic recovery, as everyone has become satiated with stories of gloom.

  • Zombie bank clings to life as it is declared too expensive to close

    1 Jul 2009

    In the Irish parliament it's been called a financial cesspit and a zombie institution but despite such trenchant criticism and calls for it to be wound up the Republic's only nationalised lender, Anglo Irish Bank, is in a unique position.

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