Vicky Shaw
Money
Initiative helping people to access banking services is expanded to more banks
Banks will work with Shelter and UK Finance to help improve access to banking services for people who are financially excluded.
By Vicky Shaw
9 Jun 2026
Money
Measures to help close financial advice gap proposed by regulator
Simplified forms of advice could help people with more straightforward needs to access affordable advice, under the plans.
By Vicky Shaw
25 Mar 2026
Money
Shared ownership schemes are complex and not always fully understood – report
Weaknesses in information mean that government does not yet have a full understanding of how shared ownership works for consumers, the NAO said.
By Vicky Shaw
25 Mar 2026
Money
Pensioners looking for retirement annuity ‘could see rates boosted’
Moneyfactscompare.co.uk said that rising gilt yields could push annuity rates up.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Mar 2026
Money
‘Mortgage mayhem’ could mean shock for first-time buyers, website warns
Moneyfactscompare.co.uk said more than 200 mortgage deals for borrowers with low deposits have disappeared in recent weeks.
By Vicky Shaw
24 Mar 2026
Money
1,500 fewer mortgage deals on market ‘direct response to Middle East conflict’
Many deals were likely to return to the market in the coming days and weeks but repriced at higher rates, Moneyfacts said.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Mar 2026
Buying & Mortgages23 Mar 2026
London is the UK's least affordable place for first-time buyers
The average house price to earnings ratio in London is 7.5 - higher than anywhere in the country
UK
Railway town named Britain’s most affordable for families to buy a home
Zoopla said the ‘scale of the affordability gap’ across different locations stands out.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Mar 2026
Money
Aspiring first-time buyers with student debt ‘face £2,000 annual savings gap’
More than two-fifths of people with student loans said the debt makes it harder to be financially stable, according to Barclays.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Mar 2026
Money
Many households ‘will only have cleared their Christmas debt in the weeks ahead’
Festive generosity can ‘quietly follow households well into the new year’, according to budgeting tool IE Hub.
By Vicky Shaw
23 Mar 2026
Money
Later life mortgages to be put under spotlight by City regulator
Lifetime and retirement interest only mortgages could play a greater role in future, the Financial Conduct Authority said.
By Vicky Shaw
20 Mar 2026
Where to live
The best place to live in London crowned — and it's not a surprise
Judges for The Sunday Times Best Places To Live guide ‘travelled the length and breadth of the UK’.
By Vicky Shaw
20 Mar 2026
Money
Easter egg shoppers facing shrinkflation double whammy, warns Which?
Shoppers searching for chocolate treats are being given ‘less for more,’ the consumer group said.
By Vicky Shaw
20 Mar 2026
Money
Households facing ‘fresh blow to budgets’ as inflation forecasts are hiked
Sharp rises in the cost of energy could also have implications for the cost of food, travel, entertainment and more, an analyst said.
By Vicky Shaw
19 Mar 2026
Money
Banks have new flexibilities to set higher contactless card limits in future
Britain’s major banks have said that they will keep the £100 card limit for now.
By Vicky Shaw
19 Mar 2026
Money
Waspi campaigners say they are preparing for potential fresh legal challenge
Lawyers are set to raise ‘legal errors’ with the Government, Waspi campaigners said.
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026
Buying & Mortgages
Second steppers ‘face biggest gap on record to trade up to next home’
Rightmove found a 52 per cent typical asking price gap between first-time buyer and second stepper homes, the biggest since its records started in 2001
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026
Money
£2.5m payment is reversed using Monzo’s tool for ‘oh no moments’
The ‘undo payments’ tool gives customers a short window to change their minds and stop a transfer before the money leaves their account.
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026
Money
Contactless card limit rule changes come into force from Thursday
Firms will have new flexibilities to set contactless card limits higher than £100 if they wish to in future under FCA rule changes.
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026
Money
More households ‘to have access to affordable loans with credit union shake-up’
Government reforms will pave the way for bigger credit unions.
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026
Money
Bank warns about ‘cruel’ friendship fraudsters targeting older people
In one case analysed by TSB, someone had made 60 payments over four years.
By Vicky Shaw
18 Mar 2026