SAVINGS

HotUKDeals has launched a free Pinterest-style app for tablet owners, making it easier for them to find and share the best deals. It gives users access to almost 1 million deals on everything from fish fingers to flights.

Skipton Building Society has extended availability of its 3.5% 7-Year Fixed Rate Bond throughout the entire month of August. The limited edition product had faced withdrawal after overwhelming demand saw the original tranche filled within weeks.

Legal & General has launched the 22nd product in its series of structured deposit Growth Deposit Bonds. 6 Year Growth Deposit Bond 22 opens for investment for nine weeks from Monday 12 August and closes on Friday 11 October 2013.

The ‘participation rate’ offers savers a potential return of 100% of the growth in the FTSE 100 Index up to a maximum value of 35% gross (5.13% AER) of the original investment.

MORTGAGES

Leeds Building Society has launched its range of products for the Government’s Help to Buy shared equity scheme. It is offering a 2.99% two-year fixed rate available to 75% LTV and a fee-assisted option with the same 75% LTV cap and a starting rate of 3.29%. The maximum loan for both products is £450,000 with both products solely available through brokers.

West Bromwich Building Society has slashed its two-year fixed rate to 1.48%, entering the 60% Loan to Value fixed rate price war fray. The direct-only product pushes HSBC off the best rate top spot after it launched a 1.49% last week.

CREDIT CARDS/LOANS

Halifax has increased the interest-free period on both balance transfers and new purchases to 15 months on its All in One Credit Card.
In addition, Halifax will refund two-thirds of the 3% balance transfer fee, which means all new customers will pay a balance transfer fee of just 1%.

Wesleyan Bank, part of Wesleyan Assurance Society, has started to offer bespoke commercial loans to dentists. Wesleyan provides specialist financial advice and services to dentists, doctors, lawyers and teachers.