Banks

Politicians have opened an inquiry into bank lending to small and medium-sized business.

Demand for mortgages rose at the fastest pace in six years in the fourth quarter of 2013, according to data from the Bank of England.

Twelve per cent of adults in the UK have been turned down for credit in the last three years, research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Confused.com has found.

Net lending to UK businesses rose by £2.5 billion in the month to September - the biggest monthly rise in lending since January 2009 - figures from the British Banking Association (BBA) have shown.

Low interest rates are 'unhealthy for the economy' and are 'misleading borrowers', a former Government adviser has said.

Consumers will be able to cancel regular payments from their bank account by contacting their card provider as part of a move to simplify the banking system and better protect consumers, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has said.

Net lending by banks under the Government's Funding for Lending Scheme fell by £0.3 billion in the first quarter of the year, data from the Bank of England shows

The chief economist at the British Chambers of Commerce has urged the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to resist pressures to add to its quantitative easing programme.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been replaced by two new regulatory bodies, which will aim to monitor financial institutions and better protect consumers.

UK banks will be forced to separate everyday high-street and retail banking operations from their investment arms under the Banking Reform Bill, announced by the Chancellor George Osborne.