Category Archives: Checking & Savings

Checking & Savings

Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, ISAs, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock Cuts Everyday Mortgage Rates

Northern Rock has improved its Everyday mortgage range, offering lower rates which will make it more affordable for those looking to buy a new property or remortgage their home. The new Everyday fixed rates start from just 3.09%.

Everyday mortgages offer customers simple, straightforward mortgage deals with competitive rates and the ability to make overpayments of up to 10% each year, as well as the option to apply for payment holidays.

The news comes just weeks after it reduced its application fee for purchase customers to just £99.

Until Saturday 23 October 2010, all successful mortgage applicants on any Northern Rock purchase product who complete by 31st January 2011 will be entered into a prize draw with the chance of winning a home ‘makeover’. This prize will include a personal consultation with an interior designer to help them plan the change, and gift vouchers from retailer John Lewis.

Lloyd Cochrane, Head of Mortgage Products at Northern Rock said: “Buying a new house can be very exciting, but making your new house your home can also be expensive. Northern Rock understands this and so, as well as making rate cuts across our Everyday range of mortgages, we are offering one lucky mortgage customer the chance to win a fantastic new home makeover which we hope will help things along a little.”

Northern Rock continues to offer a choice of Fee Saver options across its Everyday and Flexible product ranges for customers who are looking to keep their costs as low as possible. And there is also a competitive range of Buy-to-Let mortgages available.

Northern Rock continues to operate its mortgage product range within the constraints of the competitive measures agreed with the European Commission. Full details of the entire mortgage product range offered by Northern Rock are included for information.

Via EPR Network
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Northern Rock Launches Penguin Book Share Scheme

Northern Rock has partnered with Penguin books to offer customers free copies of classic editions available from many of its branches.

Some 25 high street branches across the country will be stocked with classic titles from the Penguin range including Moby Dick, The Thirty Nine Steps and Wind in the Willows.

Each paperback cover will feature the iconic Penguin logo, alongside the distinctive Northern Rock pink and black brand.

Northern Rock hopes that customers visiting participating bank branches will select a book from the specially designed stand, take it home, pass it on to friends or drop it into a branch for someone else to enjoy.

Anth Mooney, Marketing Director at Northern Rock said: “The Penguin book share scheme is a great way to get people talking about our brand. It also helps to make our branches interesting and stimulating places to visit and conduct business.

“To be associated with such a well-known name in the publishing world is a great honour and we are looking forward to generating lots of interest and hopefully introducing children to such classics as the Railway Children and Treasure Island, featuring Long John Silver – the original Pirate of the Caribbean.”

Nicola Hill, Marketing Director at Penguin, said: “We’re delighted with this collaboration and look forward to hearing from new readers as they discover Penguin Classics through Northern Rock.”

If the pilot proves successful, Northern Rock aims to launch a virtual book club that allows people to post reviews and ask for Penguin books they have not read yet.

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock’s Innovative Mortgage Website Scoops Prestigious Award

Northern Rock’s new interactive mortgage website has been commended by a leading magazine for its ‘best use of digital by sector’.

The new Northern Rock mortgage site was launched in April this year and managed to fight off stiff competition to win the prestigious accolade at the Communicate Magazine’s Digital Impact Awards.

The award presentation was held at the Tabernacle in Notting Hill in order to celebrate excellence in digital stakeholder communications.

Northern Rock, along with digital agency TH_NK, who helped design the website, succeeded in beating off stiff competition from FT.com, Echo Research for the Liberal Democrats, Omobono for Ocean Sky, Echo Research for Syngenta and Citigate Dewe Rogerson for TalkTalk, which were also shortlisted for the prize.

The site was created to make it easier for customers to find Northern Rock mortgages and learn more about the purchase process. As well as containing lots of useful advice and information for different customer groups, it also includes a range of new tools such as a jargon buster, budget planner and mortgage overpayment calculator to take the complexity out of the mortgage-selection process.

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Loans, Money

MidCountry Bank Names Steve Meads New President

MidCountry Bank has named financial industry veteran Steve Meads as its new president. Meads is now responsible for leading the growth of the bank in each of the communities it serves.

“We are very excited to have such an exceptional individual on our team who demonstrates the characteristics for which our company was built: local community spirit, and our core values of integrity, honesty, fairness, compassion and excellence,” said Bob Hatcher , CEO MidCountry Financial Corp , the bank’s holding company.

Meads graduated from Carleton College with a BA in Economics and also earned his MBA in Finance from the University of Wisconsin. He has nearly 25 years of financial services industry experience, most recently serving as President and CEO of Bremer Bank in the Twin Cities. He also is the Chairman of the YMCA of Greater Saint Paul and is active on the board of the Woodbury Community Foundation. Meads resides with his wife, Teri, and their four children in Lake Elmo.

MidCountry Bank is a full-service bank with administrative headquarters in Minnetonka , Twin Cities and out-state branches in Minnesota and a regional presence in Southern Illinois and Nevada . As a community bank, MidCountry provides high quality, diversified financial services and solutions for customers to meet their personal, business and professional banking needs. To learn more, visit www.MidCountryBank.com.

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Banks, Bonds, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Services, Mortgage, Personal Finance

Northern Rock Launches New Fixed Rate E-Bond

Northern Rock has launched a new e-bond account, providing a competitive interest rate for those savers who wish to operate their account online.

With a minimum deposit of just £1, customers can benefit from a fixed rate of interest for one year. e-bond (Issue 1) pays 3.00% gross*/AER** pa until 20 October 2011. Accounts must be opened and operated online. Initial deposits can be made online by electronic transfer from another bank or building society, or from an existing Northern Rock account.

Account holders can choose to have their interest paid annually (interest is calculated daily) on 5 August, or monthly (the monthly interest rate is 0.30% below the gross* annual rate) on the 7th of the month (available next business day).

Additional deposits can be made during the offer period up to a maximum of £250,000 per customer. e-bond (Issue 1) is non-redeemable and does not allow any withdrawals or closure during the fixed rate period. The fixed rate bond is offered on a limited issue basis and will be withdrawn without notice once fully subscribed. Once withdrawn, no further deposits will be accepted.

In keeping with Northern Rock’s commitment to providing openness, transparency, and fair treatment of customers, full product details are available at Northern Rock’s website at www.northernrock.co.uk/savings.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Launches Next Generation Online Payments With SmartPay

Barclaycard has announced the launch of Barclaycard SmartPay. This new secure online payment processing system is designed to help European retailers compete with domestic retailers in foreign markets and reduce the number of transactions where customers do not complete their purchase. Developed in partnership with global internet payment and e-commerce solutions provider Adyen, it will revolutionise cross-border e-commerce by offering a simpler, seamless payment experience to consumers.

Barclaycard SmartPay’s next generation functionality offers a single payment gateway for large merchants’ online shops, adapting language and currency to the origin of the paying customer. While ensuring an interruption-free redirect to the payments page, it also offers a diverse range of payment methods, helping retailers to meet local consumer preferences for online transaction types across European countries which helps lower abandonment rates*.

According to recent figures** for Western Europe, e-commerce sales are expected to reach €77bn this year, and grow by a further 10 per cent per annum to reach €123bn by 2015. Whether in traditional retail sales, leisure and travel or other key online sectors, Barclaycard SmartPay will enable merchants to take maximum advantage of the rapidly growing online sales market.

Paul Cook, Managing Director of Global Payment Acceptance at Barclaycard, said:
“Consumers can quickly get frustrated at online check-out and abandon their purchase if the experience isn’t straightforward or they can’t select their preferred payment method. By simplifying the complex online transaction processes, Barclaycard SmartPay will make it easy for businesses to present a seamless, familiar payment environment to customers across the EU and, ultimately, increase conversion rates and confidence with previously unfamiliar websites.”

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Spending Index Up 9.2% Year-On-Year in July

Barclaycard Spending Index up 9.2% year-on-year in July shows talk of Government austerity drive having little impact on consumer spending.

Consumer spending on cards saw a near double digit increase in August compared to the same month last year, challenging concerns that talk of reduced public spending is already forcing consumers to be more cautious.

According to the new figures released by Barclaycard, the amount spent on debit and credit cards, in-store and online, increased by 9.2% in August compared to the same month last year, with new autumn sales, discounts and back-to-school spending helping to keep the retail sector buoyant. The rising cost of both food and cotton may also be starting to filter through to retail prices, meaning higher spending.

This month’s increase represents the fourth month in a row that the annual growth rate has increased by more than 9%, indicating anything but a dip in confidence.

The figures challenge recent reports of a consumer spending slowdown and reduced consumer confidence, suggesting that a gap exists between what consumers say about their financial prospects and how they behave, with spending on the high street remaining strong.

Stuart Neal, head of Barclaycard UK Payment Acceptance said: “With leading retailers warning that the Government austerity drive will keep the economy in the doldrums and hit consumer confidence hard, it is good to see a fourth month of increased spending.”

“While there is some cause for viewing the near future with a certain amount of trepidation, recent indicators are good. Confidence remains relatively high, but it will be important to see how spending fares when public spending cutbacks begin to hit people’s pockets, and not just the headlines.”

Via EPR Network
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Banks, Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Education, Financial Services, Loans, Money

MidCountry Financial Hires Chief Accounting Officer – Adds Additional Planning, Compliance, And Industry Experience To Seasoned Executive Team

MidCountry Financial Corp. (MCFC) is pleased to announce that Darren Cantlay has joined the executive team as Vice President of Accounting and Finance, and Chief Accounting Officer. In this newly-created position, Cantlay will manage all financial reporting, budgeting, financial systems, and tax functions for MCFC, among other things, and will also assist with strategic planning and overall financial management for the organization. Cantlay begins his new role Sept. 1, 2010.

“We’re extremely excited to have Darren join the MidCountry Financial family,” said David Hall, chief financial officer for MCFC. “He brings a diverse and extensive set of financial skills to the company, and he will be a valuable asset as we continue to grow and expand our organization.”

Cantlay has more than 15 years of experience handling a variety of accounting, compliance, planning, and operational issues for a variety of financial institutions, including McIntosh Bancshares, the Bank of Ellijay, Appalachian Bancshares, and United Bank Corporation. He has previously held the positions of chief financial officer, chief operating officer, controller, and accountant.

A graduate of Valdosta State University, Cantlay has been an adjunct faculty member at Griffin Technical Institute, where he taught both accounting and tax courses. He is a member of the Georgia Society of Certified Public Accountants, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the Institute of Management Accountants, the Georgia Bankers Association Asset Liability Committee, and was Secretary of the Gilmore County Rotary Club from 2008-2009.

Via EPR Network
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Checking & Savings, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Prudential Reveals 1 In 3 UK Couples Know Nothing About Their Partner’s Finances

Prudential has revealed new research that shows UK couples could be risking poverty in old age because they are failing to talk to one another about financial planning for their retirement.

The study found that nearly a third of couples (32 per cent) aged 40 and above but not yet retired* say they don’t know or understand the details of their partner’s retirement savings, with more than a fifth (22 per cent) saying they have never talked to their partner about financial planning for retirement.

The findings from new research commissioned by Prudential reveal that women are even less likely than men to discuss financial planning for retirement with partners, with almost a quarter of women (24 per cent) saying they have never discussed this, compared to almost one in five men (19 per cent).

And a further 12 per cent of women and 11 per cent of men say they know nothing about their spouse or partner’s finances – and they’re not really interested. This lack of interest could be compounding low levels of financial awareness.

To help people prepare for their retirement, Prudential has produced a decade-by-decade guide to the conversations couples need to have at pru.co.uk/couplesconversations. Suggested subjects include making a will, discussing pensions and how much to save, talking about when to retire, working out retirement income, reviewing total savings, researching annuity options and when to buy, checking National Insurance contributions, talking about housing options, leaving an inheritance, and agreeing on long term care.

Andy Brown, investments director at Prudential, said: “It is incredible that so many people do not know the details of their partner’s retirement savings. Essentially, this could mean millions of UK adults are banking on hope as their core retirement strategy and are approaching what is arguably the most important financial decision without a full understanding of their household financial situation.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Has Increased The Balance Transfer Period On Barclaycard Platinum

Barclaycard has announced it is increasing the balance transfer period on Barclaycard Platinum to 16 months at 0% for new customers with a handling charge of 2.9%.

Barclaycard Platinum also offers 0% interest on purchases for the first three months and a typical APR of 16.9%.

The extension of balance transfers to 16 months provides customers with an affordable way to manage their finances without incurring extra interest. The handling charge of just 2.9% makes it easy for customers to make the move as well as saving them money. Purchases over the first three months will also be interest free, with typical interest at 16.9%.

In addition to the extended 0% balance transfer offered by Barclaycard Platinum, customers will benefit from the broadest rewards scheme in the UK. Barclaycard Freedom provides Reward Money in pounds and pence in thousands of retailers across the UK without the need to carry additional credit cards or vouchers.

Customers will also enjoy the flexibility of contactless technology: payments of £15 and under can be made by simply holding the credit card over the contactless reader; all backed up by Barclaycard’s advanced security and fraud prevention measures.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Reveals Two Minute Limit For Britain’s Impatient Shoppers

Barclays’ and Barclaycard‘s latest research reveals that far from the stereotype as a nation that loves to wait in line, two fifths of Brits refuse to queue for longer than two minutes and 68% regularly abandon purchases.

According to the poll of 2,000 shoppers*, women will queue only 12 seconds longer than men, but the biggest surprise is the willingness of younger shoppers (18-24) to wait a full two minutes longer in line than those aged 55-64.

Impatient shoppers seem hungry for change, with food or drink outlets found to have the most frustrating queues. In contrast, supermarkets are seen to be the best at managing queues. 51% of shoppers refuse to even enter a store if they spy a queue and some retailers are taking extreme measures to cope with customers’ impatience with 30% of shops shifting till positions to hide long queues**. In contrast 12% of retailers, including supermarket chain Co-operative, have begun to deploy contactless payment systems which, by doing away with the need to enter a pin code, reduce transaction times by over a third (source Smart Card Alliance).

Stuart Neal, head of UK Payment Acceptance at Barclaycard, commented:

“While retailers appear to be aware that even their most loyal customers are not prepared to wait in line any more, hiding the evidence of queues is not the way to fix the problem. Consumers have increasingly busy lives and retailers must be prepared to fit in with them by offering innovative solutions to speed up transactions. By embracing technology and installing new payments systems, such as contactless, retailers will stay ahead of the curve and limit the amount of time that people are waiting in shop queues.”

The top frustrations of queuing shoppers were not enough staff serving customers, sales assistants spending too long chatting to customers and people fumbling in their pockets for change. Half of shoppers (46%) favour stores with express lanes.

Via EPR Network
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MidCountry Financial Corp. Website And Newsletter Named Finalist For National Awards

PR News has named MidCountry Financial Corp. a finalist for its “2010 PR Digital Awards” in two separate categories: Best Newsletter, and Best Website Redesign. Directed by PR News, a leading communications and public relations news source, these awards for digital communications expertise are nationally recognized and highly competitive.

“MidCountry Financial is proud to have its Vantage Point employee newsletter and website, as well as those employees who develop and maintain these critical communications vehicles, recognized as best in the nation,” said Julie Schaller , senior vice president, human resources, for MidCountry Financial Corp. “Our corporate culture is centered heavily on open communication and transparency with our employees, our customers, and our investors, which makes such national recognition even more important to the MidCountry family.”

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in New York City Oct. 6, 2010. Finalists in other categories include Coca Cola, General Motors, Barilla Pasta, Cisco Systems, Hilton Hotels, and Boeing, among others.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Spending Index Shows July Year-On-Year Growth Up 9.9%

Consumer spending on cards saw a near double digit increase in July compared to the same month last year, challenging concerns that consumer confidence has dipped.

According the latest figures released by Barclaycard, traditional summer discounting by retailers appears to have enticed consumers back to the high street, with the amount spent on debit and credit card purchases, in-store and online, increasing by 9.9% in July compared to the same month last year. Year-on-year figures have steadily increased since the start of 2010, with July representing the third month in a row that these figures have increased by more than 9%.

The figures run contrary to recent reports of a dip in consumer confidence – including the British Retail Consortium’s Index of Consumer Confidence – suggesting that a gap exists between what consumers say about their financial prospects and how they behave, with spending on the high street remaining strong.

Stuart Neal, head of Barclaycard UK Payment Acceptance said: “If consumer confidence is taking a hit, it’s not happening on the high street. If spending remains at this level compared to last year, 2010 could prove overall to be a very good year for retailers.”

Compared with June, the spending figures showed a slight increase in July by 1.9%, partly through consumers taking advantage of the earlier start to summer sales and July having 31 days rather than June’s 30 days.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Customers Stay Alert To Spending With mybarclaycard

mybarclaycard, the next-generation online account servicing system offered to Barclaycard customers, will now provide SMS and email alerts to enable customers to keep on top of their spending when out and about.

The new service offers Barclaycard customers the choice of up to six alerts:
– Account balance
– Notification of statements posted online
– Payments due
– Payments received
– Spending limit reached
– Balance limit

One set of alerts is available for every credit card account, allowing customers complete control and flexibility over how they manage their finances. Customers opt in for these free alerts if they wish to receive them, and can select the ones they feel are most relevant to them. They also have the option to set their own spending limits, and to choose whether to receive full alerts via email, or SMS alerts containing a link to the online system and a description of the alert in question.

mybarclaycard alerts are the latest addition to Barclaycard’s range of online services, and form part of Barclaycard’s wider strategy to encourage customers to try paperless email and SMS in place of traditional channels. By offering a proactive electronic alerts system, mybarclaycard now offers additional support to customers who might otherwise be reluctant to go paperless.

mybarclaycard is the next generation of online card and banking services, offering customers new ways to interpret and manage their spending. It enables customers to personalise their pages, and offers visual representations of spend to make card management easier.

In addition to mybarclaycard, Barclaycard customers can also take advantage of Barclaycard Freedom, the broadest rewards scheme in the UK, which allows customers to earn and redeem Reward Money in pounds and pence in thousands of retailers across the UK without the need to carry additional cards or vouchers. Customers also enjoy the flexibility of contactless technology: payments of £15 and under can be made with just a simple swipe; all backed up by Barclaycard’s advanced security and fraud prevention measures.

Via EPR Network
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Pioneer Services’ Fort Hood Office Chosen As One Of ‘The Very Best In Central Texas’

The Fort Hood Pioneer Services’ office was honored recently when a reader’s poll in the Killeen Daily Herald, the area’s 100-year old daily newspaper, named the company one of the best places to get a loan in the Central Texas region. The annual “Central Texas ‘ 100 Best” poll is an opportunity for the community to vote on where they go to find the region’s best products and services. The 2010 winners were announced in the June 27, 2010, edition of the daily publication.

“We are honored that the community chose Pioneer Services as one of the best places for Fort Hood service members and military families to get a loan,” said Romy Mortel, branch manager of Pioneer Services’ Fort Hood office. “Our primary mission is to improve the quality of life for military families and support the community, so it’s nice to know that our associates’ hard work is appreciated and recognized, not only by our customers, but by the broader community as well.”

The poll, initially launched in May, asked readers to complete a write-in ballot telling the newspaper where to find the best businesses and services in more than 100 categories, and generated nearly 6,000 responses. Winners receive a certificate of recognition and a banner to display at their establishment that highlights the honor.

Pioneer Services, the military banking division of MidCountry Bank, provides financial services and award-winning education to members of the Armed Forces. F or more than 20 years , Pioneer Services has been a leader in military lending, offering military loans, retail lending, VA loans, and award-winning financial education programs through a network of offices and on the Internet. The Pioneer Services Ft. Hood office, located at 202 E. Veterans Memorial Blvd, Killeen, TX, has been proudly supporting military families and the community through a variety of partnerships, programs, and sponsorships since 1997.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Rollercoaster Extreme Shoots To Top Spot

Barclaycard Rollercoaster Extreme has shot to the top spot in app charts in 40 countries since it launched. In just over two weeks this worldwide phenomenon has sparked over 4.3million downloads, as fans across the world clamour for position at the head of Barclaycard’s global leader board, and a chance to win a once in a lifetime trip to Las Vegas.

The competitive lure of Rollercoaster Extreme has made the game into a truly worldwide phenomenon with no fewer than twelve countries now represented in the current top twenty leaderboard, from Sweden to Thailand and Tajikistan. Argentina currently leads the pack, closely followed by Japan, Germany and the USA, and new gamers continue to sign up to challenge their position at the top of the rankings.

And it is well worth the challenge. Each month from now until December, Barclaycard will reward the gamer at the top of the leaderboard with an Apple iPad, and in January 2011, the top four players will be invited to Las Vegas for a global play-off. All four will stay at the New York, New York hotel in Las Vegas where they can ride a real rollercoaster among the New York landmarks around the outside of the building before battling it out for the ultimate prize of £50,000.

Hannah Deans, Senior Digital and New Media Manager, Barclaycard said: “We are thrilled to see the public embrace Rollercoaster Extreme with such enthusiasm. The number of downloads to date is fantastic, and we hope the global challenge will encourage people to enjoy the game to the full over the next six months.”

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Launches Barclaycard Platinum Purchase

Barclaycard has announced the launch of Barclaycard Platinum Purchase, the all in one solution for balance transfers and purchases.

Under the new scheme, Barclaycard customers can take advantage of twelve months interest free on credit card balance transfers, for a fee of just 2.9%. In addition to this, they will enjoy twelve months interest free on purchases, making the card a solution for customers who want to pay off an existing balance without being penalised by high charges on purchases.

At the end of the twelve month period, interest will be charged at 16.9% APR.

Barclaycard Platinum 0 Purchase credit cards are a good option for those wishing to make frequent purchases on their card such as petrol, food and travel. By offering this interest free period on both balance transfers and purchases, Barclaycard enables customers to effectively plan repayments and day to day spending over the twelve months.

Cardholders will also enjoy a range of associated benefits delivered by Barclaycard: from Barclaycard Freedom, the broadest rewards scheme in the UK, to revolutionary online account management with mybarclaycard and the exclusive music world of Barclaycard Unwind.

Barclaycard Freedom allows customers to earn and redeem reward money in pounds and pence in thousands of retailers across the UK without the need to carry additional cards or vouchers. Customers will also enjoy the flexibility of contactless technology: payments of £15 and under can be made by simply holding the card over the contactless reader, backed up by Barclaycard’s advanced security and fraud prevention measures.

Via EPR Network
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