Barclays takes axe to savings rates

The bank has cut savings rates, while Nationwide building society has increased the cost of its overdrafts

Bank rate on hold but loan rates up and savings down

Dearth of credit dampens Britain’s hopes

Bank lending to businesses fell in April and a Bank of England official has raised concern over access to finance

Britain's biggest debt-ridden towns

As the downturn deepens, debts on plastic and personal loans are piling up, but nowhere more so than in these hotspots

How to find a first-rate personal loan

As costs soar a little research can still secure a good deal

Banks fail to boost level of lending

Bank of England warns that lending to large and small companies remains weak while spreads and fees continue to rise

Debt charities overwhelmed by recession

National Debtline is having to turn away 25,000 calls a month as demand for its services soars

Building societies accused of ignoring risk

Financial Services Authority says it warned mutuals 'over and over again' about not following sensible lending practices

Abbey set to loosen criteria for home loans

Mortgage lender looking to boost the market by lowering the minimum deposit for its best fixed-rate deals to 30 per cent

Judge to freeze credit claims

Consumers overwhelmed with debts may be unable to write-off credit card debt due to unenforceability

Don’t pay over the odds with credit cards

Borrowing — we search out the best deals in an increasingly expensive market

Don’t fall victim to the banks’ hard sell

Beware of fee-charging current accounts, home insurance and identity theft cover. Better deals are available elsewhere

Fear and desperation for the debt advisers

Counsellors are struggling to deal with the distress of thousands of people whose finances have careered out of control

Bovey is back in spite of £28m losses

Husband of Anthea Turner launches a new company just months after his previous property empire collapsed with huge debts

Investors blanch at prospect of lending £220bn

Government bond prices slump and the pound tumbles as City analysts are shocked by urgency of government's need to borrow

Watchdog to investigate loan and credit card market

Office of Fair Trading begins consultation on the fairness and competition in the consumer credit market

House prices up for first time since 2007

Hopes that the worst of the recession may be over are bolstered as banks indicate that the credit crunch may be easing