Loan news: 0% base rate a possibility

11 December 2008
As the economy deteriorates, many economists expect interest rates to hit 1% or even 0% before long. For people looking for a loan, this might be good news. ... read more »

Government: banks must provide more loans

4 November 2008
Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling expect banks to act on the commitments made as part of the bank bailout scheme, The Times reports.... read more »

Cost of loans could fall

18 December 2008
The cost and availability of loans could be set to improve following changes to the Government’s credit guarantee scheme.... read more »

BoE should exercise ‘aggressive’ policies to help loans markets

18 December 2008
The Bank of England should exercise ‘aggressive’ policies to fight the credit crunch and improve the availability and cost of loans, according to a former member of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC).... read more »

Economy may not recover until 2010

6 January 2009
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has admitted that the economic downturn may last longer than expected, following worse-than-expected lending and retail figures for the end of 2008.... read more »

Getting a loan

2 January 2009

It’s true that loans are more difficult to come by than they were only a year-to-18-months ago. Fears of losses from years of relatively relaxed lending have caused banks and other financial institutions tightened their lending criteria in order to protect themselves.

That said, it’s still very much possible to get a loan. Lenders still want to be competitive in the loans market in order to make money, and with the potential for further base rate cuts on the horizon, we may soon see interest rates on personal loans come down.

Loan seekers turn to credit unions

13 January 2009
Welsh credit unions are facing much higher demand for loans, as people find it harder to access more ‘traditional’ sources of credit.... read more »

Lack of demand – not lack of car loans – is the problem

Car sales fell 25% last month, but not everyone agrees on the reasons for the slump.... read more »

Loans: how the base rate affects availability

11 March 2009
Anyone looking for a loan may have been pleased to see the raft of base rate cuts announced since October, hoping they’ll help reduce the cost – and increase the availability – of loans. But how likely is that? ... read more »

Can I get a loan if I own a home?

17 April 2009
If you`re looking for a loan, owning a home can make a big difference. Why? When you ask a lender about getting a loan, they obviously want to be sure you`re going to pay it back!... read more »

Are secured loans for homeowners still available?

11 May 2009
In a word: yes. Secured loans are still very much available for homeowners - but that doesn`t mean every homeowner will be able to find one. If you`re looking for a secured loan, start by asking yourself these three questions...... read more »

Loans: credit crunch `has ended`

22 May 2009
Economists have suggested that the `credit crunch` has come to an end, according to The Times, after the LIBOR (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) fell to record lows.... read more »

Loans: Bank of England warns more cash may be needed

18 May 2009
Bank of England Governor Mervyn King has suggested that banks may yet require further funding to persuade them to start offering loans freely once again.... read more »

How to get a loan in the credit crunch

26 August 2009
Over the past two years or so, borrowing money - whether it`s a personal loan or a mortgage - has been a lot more difficult than it has been in recent years.... read more »

Can I get a loan if I`m in debt?

21 July 2009
We all know that finding a loan has become more difficult recently. Lenders have become more cautious about their lending as a way of protecting themselves against the economic downturn.... read more »

Lending criteria on loans to be tightened

5 October 2009
A report by the Bank of England has suggested that banks are to tighten their lending criteria on loans and credit cards, the Telegraph reports.... read more »