Platforms

Wealth Horizon, an online service providing regulated investment advice, has launched.

As has CrowdProperty, a peer-to-peer lending platform designed to facilitate loans between private individuals and property professionals. CrowdProperty acts as an investment for ‘lenders’ and a method of raising capitals for ‘buyers’ looking to finance or re-finance a property project.

Bank Accounts

HSBC will be offering a new Advance bank account with no monthly fee from 10 November.

Mortgages

Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks have launched a new range of mortgages. Highlights include a number of competitive mortgages fixed for two and five years which come with a £500 cashback offer and no arrangement fees on selected products.

West Bromwich Building Society has cut several of its two and five-year fixes by up to 0.2 per cent. New products launched include a five-year fix at 3.09 per cent available up to 65 per cent loan-to-value (LTV). A £199 booking fee and an £800 completion fee apply.

TSB has offered to pay a year’s worth of Council Tax for new mortgage customers. The offer is available to both first-time buyers and home movers up to a maximum of £2,500 on mortgages over 75 per cent and up to 90 per cent LTV.

Insurance

LV= has launched a new landlord insurance product, designed for private landlords who own residential properties let to tenants for six months of the year or more. The policy covers accidental damage as standard, plus cover for lost rental income and the cost of putting tenants in alternative accommodation if the property becomes uninhabitable.

Virgin Money has announced a new range of residential and buy-to-let mortgage products, including a new two-year fixed rate at 1.94 per cent up to 60 per cent loan to value (LTV).

Credit Cards

MBNA has launched a new Platinum credit card, offering zero per cent interest for up to 32 months.

MBNA has also announced an extended credit card affinity agreement with Tottenham Hotspur, which will see MBNA remain the Club’s official UK credit card partner until the end of the 2018/19 season.

In yet more news, MBNA has added zero per cent interest for up to 13 months on all card purchases and up to 21 months zero per cent interest on balance transfers for new Everyday Credit Card customers.

Investments

CityR, the specialist property investment company, has launched a new investment opportunity in Columbus, Ohio.

Vanguard has cut charges on their funds and ETFs, starting next week. From Monday fees will be lowered on 20 funds and four ETFs including the £4.5bn Vanguard Emerging Markets Stock Index fund.