Barclays and Natwest to set tone for Big Four banks in year ahead February 12, 2025 As Britain’s Big Four banks prepare to post annual results, analysts expect “strong” performances, but warned of long-term challenges. Barclays and Natwest will lead the first round of results this week, with the pair reporting on Thursday and Friday respectively. This will be followed by HSBC on February 19 and Lloyds on February 20. The [...]
Motor finance scandal: Close Brothers on the hook for £165m February 12, 2025 Close Brothers will be forced to set aside £165m in its half-year results following recent developments in the motor finance scandal. The calculation is based on currently available information but the merchant bank said ultimate costs could be “materially higher or lower” given uncertainty surrounding the FCA’s ongoing review of motor commissions. Close Brothers said [...]
Natwest: FTSE 100 bank’s share price scoops ten-year high February 11, 2025 Shares in Natwest were touching a ten year high on Tuesday morning, ahead of the bank posting its annual results on Friday. At market open, share price was at 442.70p edging towards the high of 445.85p achieved in February 2015. The lender hit its highest share price since 2015 last month, and continued to rally [...]
Motor finance: Close Brothers calls on magic circle law firm for court battle February 6, 2025 Close Brothers has swapped in a top magic circle law firm for its Supreme Court battle to overturn the landmark motor finance test case.
HSBC: FTSE 100 lender’s stock drops after downgrade by Deutsche Bank February 3, 2025 HSBC’s stock price has dropped more than two per cent this morning after being downgraded by Deutsche Bank analysts from a Buy to a Hold. The FTSE 100 bank received a target share price of £9.10 from Deutsche Bank, compared to its current share price of £8.27. “After a substantial increase in share price, the [...]
Barclays says services are back to normal after technical issue ‘resolved’ February 2, 2025 Barclays has apologised to customers after technical problems caused disruption to services and payments over the weekend. The bank said the issue had been resolved on Sunday morning and delayed payments processed. Barclays had previously said affected customers could see an outdated balance with payments made or received not showing. On Sunday morning, a Barclays [...]
Barclays customers ‘unable to make payments’ as bank outage continues February 1, 2025 A major IT glitch is still affecting Barclays customers, with some locked out of their accounts throughout the night and almost 24 hours on from the bank’s initial outage. The bank has apologised to customers, saying they are facing “ongoing technical issues that are impacting our customers’ accounts”. They warned some people may see an [...]
Over 100 Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches to close January 29, 2025 More than 100 Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland high street branches are to close, it has been announced. Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed it will shut 136 more high street branches as it accelerates plans to cut costs and digitise. It will close 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax and 14 Bank of Scotland branches between [...]
Lloyds Banking Group unveils £200m plan for head office January 27, 2025 Lloyds Banking Group has unveiled £200m plans to transform the headquarters of Scottish Widows to become the giant’s main base in Scotland. The Port Hamilton building on Morrison Street, Edinburgh, is to be designed in partnership with Drum Property Group. Lloyds Banking Group employs around 10,000 people in the Scottish capital. Located in the city’s [...]
Back to the office helps City of London’s tallest tower to full capacity January 20, 2025 The City’s tallest tower, 22 Bishopsgate, has been fully let after four years as the financial district continues to prove its ability to command premiums for best-in-class sustainable spaces. There’s little sign of the gloom pervading other areas of the commercial office sector in the City, with rents at 22 Bishopsgate the highest ever achieved [...]