Saving rates bounce back to 5 per cent

Savers can achieve a decent return — but only if you tie up your money

Farewell to the cheque at the checkout

An end to the cheque guarantee card is on the horizon after the Payments Council called for its withdrawal

Savers to benefit from rate rises

Interest rates have started to rise as banks and building societies vie for consumers' cash

Abbey customer loses £10,000 in dispute over fraud

The bank is refusing to compensate a customer who says that fraudsters drained her account

Going for gold... in a vending machine

Put euros into the machine and a prettily wrapped bar of the world's favourite precious metal thuds into the dispenser

Directors' Deals

O’Leary cashes in as Ryanair shares take off

Deposit protection extended for building society members

Existing members of merged societies will still receive £50,000 protection under each brand

Banks misleading customers over cheque clearance

Customers are being fed false information about when funds will be available and interest earned

Isas get 93% lift in month

Investors salted away £671 million in tax-free Isas in April — the highest sales for three years

Fame and Fortune: Lesley Garrett

An advertisement for her favourite champagne paid off the first mortgage for the Yorkshire-born opera singer

National Savings & Investments doubles bond interest

Income bond interest rate lifted to 2% as competition for savers increases

Alistair Darling's tax relief taper will ravage retirement

Pension groups fear that budget plans will hit incentives to save

Fraud alert on Premium Bonds

Fraudsters appear to be targeting cheques sent in the post by National Savings & Investments, the Treasury-backed provider

Anglo Irish cuts rates on popular accounts

The bank reduces savings rates in the UK even after the Bank of England keeps rates on hold

Egg scraps cash withdrawals

Thousands of customers lose instant access to savings as internet bank stops cash machine withdrawals

Is mobile banking safe?

The guide — You can now receive text alerts and even access online services on the go, we explain the benefits and risks

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

Make the most of your new Isa allowance

Long-suffering savers at last have something to smile about