Barclays Financial Planning launches new flexible pensions

Barclays Financial Planning has launched two new pensions products, designed to offer an effective retirement planning solution as an alternative to stakeholder pensions.

Both of the new offerings combine the traditional elements of a personal pension, with the addition of considerable investment flexibility, making them bespoke to individual clients’ needs. Clients can choose either a basic investment solution, comparable with a stakeholder pension, or the choice to diversify their pension assets, including the option of a ‘Select Choice’ fund proposition.

David Stuart, Director of Investment Advice and Products at Barclays Financial Planning said: “We have launched our new pensions to offer the everyday pensions investor something much more flexible than a stakeholder plan, but without the more complicated structure or cost implications of a full Self-Invested Personal Pension (SIPP). We offer the structure of a stakeholder pension with the option to place pensions assets in something more than a basic UK fund. In current market conditions retirement planning is still as important as ever, and we have seen clients wanting to look at alternative investments which would not be available in a basic stakeholder pension. This new product gives them that option.”

Barclays Financial Planning provides access to fully qualified financial planners in any branch of Barclays Bank, who can advise individuals on the pension solution most suitable for their circumstances. As well as pensions advice, Barclays Financial Planning can give advice on all areas of financial services.

Crescent State Bank Certified Mortgage Planner Named Real Estate Impact Leader

Michael G. Carlton, president of Crescent State Bank (www.crescentstatebank.com), a wholly owned subsidiary of Crescent Financial Corporation, (NASDAQ Global MarketSM), has announced that Mark Wooten, certified mortgage planner at the bank, has been named a Real Estate Impact Leader by Business Leader magazine. The awards are presented in recognition of outstanding achievements in the professional field as well as in the community.

Wooten has served the mortgage industry for more than 16 years and earned a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in finance from East Carolina University in Greenville. Active in the local community, he is a member of the Cary McGregor Rotary Club and the Cary Chamber of Commerce as well as a previous member of Wake County Pirate Club board of directors.

Quotes:
“I am exited to be recognized by Business Leader magazine as a Real Estate Impact Leader,” said Wooten. “It is an honor to be included in this group of respected professionals.”

About Crescent State Bank:
Crescent State Bank is a wholly owned subsidiary of Crescent Financial Corporation. The bank has total assets of $955.5 million, deposits of $711.6 million, and net loans of $759.1 million as of Sept. 30, 2008. The bank operates 13 full-service banking offices in the communities of Cary (2), Apex, Clayton, Garner, Holly Springs, Sanford, Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Raleigh, Knightdale and Wilmington (2), North Carolina. For more information, visit http://www.crescentstatebank.com.

Lloyds TSB Announce that Coy Couples are missing out on Current Account Cash

Lloyds TSB has released new figures that show while nearly three quarters (72 per cent) of couples do have a joint bank account, over a quarter choose not to join forces financially despite the fact that in doing so, they could make their money work harder for them.

Of those couples who don’t have a joint bank account, two in five (39 per cent) say they either “don’t trust their partner to spend responsibly” or “don’t want their partner knowing what they earn or spend their money on”.

Those couples who do have a joint bank account say they have one for practical reasons – 90 per cent say it helps them manage household bills and expenses, while 88 per cent also think that as a couple they should share money. Over half (55 per cent) say it helps them to save money together.

Catherine McGrath, director of current accounts at Lloyds TSB said; “In these testing financial times, it’s never been more important to make your money work as hard as it can for you. But, up until now, there has been no real financial incentive for couples to pool their current account cash. The Lloyds TSB Vantage account* has changed this. It is the only fee free current account on the high street which pays up to 5 per cent credit interest on balances up to £7,000*, making Vantage ideal for joint accounts, where two incomes are going in each month.”

Interestingly, whilst two in five couples have some reservations when it comes to sharing their money with their partners, 90 per cent say they would happily “share information on their debts”.

However, it appears these reservations come second to an opportunity to make more money, as nearly half (46 per cent) of those without a joint current account, say they would get one if they could earn a better rate of interest.

Phillip Hodson, a Fellow of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, comments: “I think some couples get married with their fingers crossed when it comes to that bit about ‘endowing thee with all my worldly goods’ and they want to keep enough cash for themselves to escape if necessary.”

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.

Lloyds TSB offer a full range of financial services including savings and investments, insurance and fee free current accounts

Lloyds TSB Bank plc Registered Office: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN. Registered in England and Wales no.2065.

Lloyds TSB Bolster Savings Range

Lloyds TSB has revealed the details of two brand new savings accounts, each offering customers the opportunity to earn up to 6% interest on their savings.

The first of the two new savings accounts, the Easy Saver 2012, tracks the Bank of England base rate until 31st December 2012 on a tiered rate up to 5.5 per cent*. The new account can be opened with a minimum balance of £1 and there are no penalties for withdrawals on the account.

The account offers customers instant access to their savings and the tiered rate is designed to help consumers maintain their savings habit over the long term.

The one year term deposit rate is the second of Lloyds TSB’s new savings options. It allows customers to earn a guaranteed return of 6.00 per cent on investments of £2000 or more. The rate is guaranteed for the term of the deposit and customers can opt to earn interest on a monthly or annual basis, enabling them to use their savings interest to boost their monthly income.

Janet Pope, director of savings and investments at Lloyds TSB said: “In an uncertain economic environment, security is a top priority for savers. Our term deposit range** has proved extremely popular, as the guaranteed return gives customers the security to plan ahead, knowing exactly how much interest they will receive and when they will get it.”

Janet continued: “Whilst some savers may want to ring fence funds in a term deposit account, others want instant access to their cash. The Easy Saver 2012 encourages customers to build their nest egg over time, safe in the knowledge they can access funds at any point if they need it.”

The new Easy Saver 2012 account can be managed through any Lloyds TSB branch or via the telephone network. Existing Lloyds TSB customers can manage their account using internet banking and funds can be transferred instantly between savings and current accounts via the new mobile banking service.

Janet Pope continued: “We continue to see strong demand from customers for our deposit products as our savings range offers customers great rates combined with the accessibility of our 1,900 strong branch network and familiarity of a high street brand. Recently, we have seen a significant increase in deposits and in the last week alone, double the average numbers of term deposit accounts have been opened.”

About Lloyds TSB:
Lloyds TSB Bank plc and Lloyds TSB Scotland plc are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and signatories to the Banking Codes.

Lloyds TSB offer a full range of financial services including savings and investments, current accounts and insurance.

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