Mortgages

Virgin Money has announced a number of rate reductions on its Rapid Remortgage range and a smaller deposit requirement for some of its fixed rate residential mortgage products.

Leeds Building Society has introduced two and five year fixed-rate deals aimed at the interest-only market. Available up to 50 per cent loan to value (LTV) at rates of 2.49 per cent and 3.19 per cent respectively they come with free standard valuations up to £335.

Skipton Building Society has lowered interest rates by as much as 0.56 per cent on its residential two-year fixed rate mortgage range from 50 per cent to 85 per cent LTV.

Mamouthshire Building Society has introduced a range of fixed rate mortgages. The Wales-based society will offer a two-year fixed rate house purchase mortgage at 2.25 per cent, with a maximum LTV of 60 per cent. This offer is available throughout Wales and England and comes with a £499 which can be added onto the loan.

Tesco Bank has confirmed it will cut rates on its two, three and five year fixed-rate mortgages. As well as cutting its rates by up to 0.7 per cent, all Tesco Bank’s fee-based mortgages now have a single product fee of £800 with a £195 non-refundable booking fee.

first direct has introduced two fixed-rate mortgages for borrowers with a 35 per cent deposit or equity. Borrowers will be able to take advantage of either a 1.39 per cent two year fixed-rate or a 2.19 per cent three year fixed rate, both with a fee of £1950.  

Payments

Customers of Clydesdale Bank, Isle of Man Bank, NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Yorkshire Bank customers can register now for Paym, the mobile payment service. 

Saving and Current Accounts

Skipton Building Society is offering its members a four per cent Loyalty Regular Saver Account. People who have been members since before 26 January 2014 can open the account with just £1 and make regular payments of up to a total of £250 per month. No withdrawals are allowed from the account during the 12 month account period.

Current Account customers switching to Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks using the Current Account Switch Service will benefit from a £150 offer. To qualify a minimum of £1,000 must be credited to the new account each month. 

Insurance

AllClear has launched a comparison website allowing travellers with pre-existing medical conditions planning to go on a cruise to compare insurance providers, find a quote and purchase cover online. 

VitalityLife has launchd a new category of protection insurance. LifestyeCareCover pays out on death or upon an illness that leaves the insured permanently unable to look after themselves. The product permits a proportion (up to 100 per cent) of their life cover to be accessed early, should they suffer a degenerative illness such as dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Offers

Consumers can earn cashback on their home phone contracts via TopCashback through TalkTalk, Sky and Virgin Media.