27 million ‘could pay less for loans’

16 December 2008
Millions of British borrowers with personal loans and credit cards could save money just by asking their lender for a lower interest rate, it has been claimed.... read more »

Personal loan rates ‘still increasing’

11 December 2008
Interest rates on personal loans are continuing to rise, despite recent cuts to the base rate, The Times reports.... read more »

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 »

Home loans: early exit can pay off

28 November 2008
People who took out a fixed-rate home loan when interest rates were high could save money by applying for a new, cheaper home loan.... 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 »

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.

Encouraging banks to offer loans

8 January 2009
The Government is considering ways of encouraging banks to increase the availability of loans.... read more »

Government ‘may have to force banks to lend’

8 January 2009
The Government may have to force banks to offer more loans and mortgages if the current situation continues, according to a leading economist.... read more »

Base rate cut could hold back loans market

12 January 2009
Financial experts have warned that January’s base rate cut could actually hinder banks’ ability to offer loans.... read more »

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 »

Car loans hard to find

29 January 2009
In the last six months, around 300,000 people have been refused a car loan.... read more »

Business loans: tough times

2 March 2009
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has published the results of its Access to Finance survey, which looks at the issues facing companies looking for loans and other forms of credit.... 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 »

Cost of borrowing `falling at fastest rate since January`

15 April 2009
The LIBOR rate (London Inter-Bank Offered Rate) has fallen at its fastest rate since January, according to The Times, suggesting that interest rates on loans and mortgages could fall further.... 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 »

Banks lending more to small businesses

15 June 2009
New figures from the British Bankers` Assocation (BBA) have suggested that banks are lending more to small businesses, in a potentially positive sign for the economy.... read more »