Non-Traditional Players in Retail Banking – The Customer Opportunity

January 25, 2010 by admin  
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Non-Traditional Players in Retail Banking: The Customer Opportunity

The financial crisis has had a huge impact upon the banking world. Many established banks have been weakened, subject to tougher regulation, and suffering from diminished trust. This has created an opening for non-traditional providers to move in and take advantage of their stronger reputations. However, they also need to be aware of obstacles, such as customer inertia, that stand in their way. ( http://www.bharatbook.com/detail.asp?id=130030&rt=Non-Traditional-Players-in-Retail-Banking-The-Customer-Opportunity.html )

Scope

* Strengths that can provide non-traditional entrants with a competitive edge over established banks, such as expertise in customer analytics.
* Weaknesses that such providers need to deal with, such as high levels of customer inertia and the difficulties faced in selling advice-led products.
* Opportunities that will benefit these institutions, for example technological developments lowering the costs of entry.
* Threats that exist to the wellbeing of new, non-traditional providers, such as lack of expertise in the provision of financial services.

Highlights

Expertise in database management and customer analytics gives supermarkets and other retailers a competitive advantage over the banks when it comes to marketing products and services.

Non-traditional providers will find it extremely difficult to overcome the high degree of inertia in the current account market.

Not having launched operations in the immediate aftermath of the banking crisis means that prospective entrants may have missed their best window of opportunity to win over disaffected customers.

Reasons to Purchase

* Presents case studies of providers who have already entered, or are in the process of entering, the financial services industry.
* Highlights the main strengths that new entrants to retail banking can exploit, as well as the weaknesses they need to contend with.
* Discusses the opportunities that exist in the market for non-traditional providers, and the threats to their prospects for success.
 

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Bank write-offs double for bad credit card debt

January 22, 2010 by admin  
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The Bank of England has reported a significant rise in the amount of money that banks have written off as bad debts on their credit cards.

The Bank figures show that the total value of the write-offs doubled to £1.6bn in the third quarter of 2009.

In the first and second quarter, the figure had been around £800m. The total amount of credit card related write-offs totaled £3.2bn during 2008.

These unusually high figures are largely due to the recession and are an acknowledgment by the banks that defaulting borrowers will never repay the outstanding debts.

In comparison, the total amount of mortgages written off in 2008 was just £408m, while averaging £260m in each of the first three quarters of 2009.

Banks and other lenders put much larger sums, running into several billions of pounds, aside each year to cover potential losses on credit cards, mortgages, overdrafts, and personal loans.

“There was a one-off write-off of impaired credit card balances by one of the banking groups,” said a spokesman for the British Bankers’ Association.

David Black of the financial consultancy Defaqto, said that over the last four years, banks have been much more careful about who they will lend to.

“HSBC, NatWest and RBS will only offer new credit cards or unsecured loans to their current account customers,” he said.

“Banks also want to sweep bad news into one year’s accounts to make future years look better,” he added.

International Private Banking: Getting Help

January 22, 2010 by admin  
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Are you interested in international private banking but not sure how to get started? International private banking is certainly more complicated and a newer idea altogether compared to regular banking services, and so you should certainly not feel like you are the only one with questions about it.

Of course if you need to get involved with international private banking, you are going to want to have someone there who is going to be able to assist you and answer any questions that you may have. Fortunately there are some fantastic institutions out there that offer customer sales teams who will be more than happy to help you out with whatever you need here.

HSBC

If you need assistance with your international online banking, there is HSBC for one. They are professionals in the field of international private banking, and here they are dedicated to providing a seamless process for customers who have financial concerns in two or more countries.

If this sounds like you, then this may be just the company that you need. They are a financial institution with years of experience backing them up and so you know that you can trust in them and the advice that they have to offer. They employ only the most talented and qualified persons on their customer sales staff, so you always know that you are dealing with the very best.

Scotiabank

Another great financial institution that can help you get started or help you with whatever you need when it comes to your international private banking is Scotiabank. They are known as being one of the leading North American banks, and so you know that they are going to be able to help you with everything you need here.

They offer more than 2000 branches in 50 different countries, and so no matter where you need to go to do your banking, you will always easily be able to find a branch. Their international banking field is one of the most dynamic areas of growth within the Scotiabank Group, and so they really have a lot of expertise in this area.

These are just two of the many different financial institutions that offer international banking so make sure that you check out what else is out there as well. As you can see, international private banking can be a really good thing as long as you are dealing with the right companies and are wise about what you are doing.

Small vs. Large Unsecured Personal Loan

January 21, 2010 by admin  
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Unfortunately, there are specific times in our lives when major expenses come up out of the blue. When you need money sooner rather than later to pay down your loans, settle medical bills, or pay off college loans for instance, you may need to look into taking out an unsecured personal loan. Unsecured personal loans have a fixed rate, so your regular payments stay the same. Also, borrowers are not required to put up any collateral to borrow money. Unsecured personal loans can be considered either small personal loans or giant private loans depending on the amount you borrow. although you do not need to use collateral to guarantee banks you will pay back your loan, you must have a good credit report to even be endorsed for an unsecured personal loan. To have a good enough credit score to qualify, you must have a strong credit report, job security, a record of making any and all bill payments on time, and possession of property.
Loans that fall between $500 and $10,000 are classified as little unsecured loans. Maybe you need to make a unexpected home repair or are just making an attempt to give your credit score a boost by paying down any debts. To get a little loan, borrowers need to have had a regular job for no less than the previous two years. They also must have employment at the time they’re applying for the loan. Often, these loans should be repaid over a 3 to 7 year period. The precise duration is dependent on the amount of the loan and the interest rate.
These big kinds of loans are usually used when a very large cost presents itself. For example, giant unsecured personal loans are taken out when people want to buy a home, need to pay off costly hospital bills, or begin a wedding. In order to take out this massive of a loan, borrowers would need to have a full time job at the time of application. They should also have had a regular job for at least the 2 years before signing up for the loan. The rate will range between 7% to 9%.
One of the great things about unsecured personal loans is that borrowers do not have to put up any personal items, for example property, as collateral to be granted the loan. it’s vital to understand this does not mean the loan does not need to be repaid. Failing to reimburse could seriously tarnish your credit history.

When Felix Withers attended High School he was a High Honors student where he graduated with 4.0. He got his BA in Language Arts at UofU. He is now writing for web marketing.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/small-vs-large-unsecured-personal-loan-1757366.html

The new-age banking in India

January 20, 2010 by admin  
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There is no denying the fact that private and foreign banks are penetrating into the Indian market with great force, as they have a better focus on the implementation of modern technologies and providing convenient banking services to their customers. However, the Public Sector Banks (PSBs) still control almost 80 per cent of the business in the country due to their wide network of branches and thus, a better reach to more and more people. Though RBI encourages entry of new private banks and grants licenses to industrial houses, the Public Sector Banks are way ahead of their private counterparts. The RBI is now even permitting mutual funds, non-banking financial companies, bond houses and insurance companies to borrow funds against corporate funds by allowing the sale and repurchase agreements in corporate debt.

State Bank of India (SBI), Bank of India (BoI), Punjab National Bank (PNB), Allahabad Bank and Central Bank of India are among the leading public sector lenders, while Axis Bank, ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank come in the list of leading private banks in India. The stiff competition within the banks has come out as a boon for the customers who are now witnessing a wide range of options to choose from, right from banks to banking services. Banks in India are now passing through a phase of customers’ market. Gone are the days, when one used to wait for hours before withdrawing cash from his/her bank account. With the rapid advancement of technologies in the sector, one can execute most of his/her account transactions without visiting the branch. Thanks to Internet banking that has made it all possible.

Within a short span of time, there has been an unprecedented rise in the number of individuals using this facility to check their account balances and statements. What more, the user can also make online payment for his/her bills. That means, a complete peace of mind for the customers. No need to say that Internet banking feature saves the customers from unnecessary time-wastage and is nothing short of a big relief for the banks’ customers. Phone banking is another feature that has gained popularity among the Indian masses, which they use to esquire about their accounts. Loans, debit cards, credit cards, insurance and investment plans are among the other services that the banks are providing to their customers and also to lure the new ones.

The Indian banking sector is still in its infancy and has still a long way to go, before it could compete with its Western and European counterparts. Banks in India also managed to tide over the impact of global slowdown and then came out successfully from the Dubai Crisis. In-fact, it won’t be an exaggeration to say that banks in India are going great guns and with the entry of private and foreign banks in the sector, the whole scenario is set to change very soon.

Ankit Arora is an expert author. He has written many articles on Internet banking and banking of ICICI Bank.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/the-newage-banking-in-india-1754335.html

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Saving ‘seen as less important’

January 13, 2010 by admin  
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British optimism towards saving has fallen, Nationwide reveals.

People are taking a poorer view towards placing money in savings accounts, new research indicates.

Nationwide, in its latest Saving Index report, reveals a fall in the number of consumers who set money aside last month.

During the course of December, 25 per cent of people stated they were not putting any money aside, a statistic claimed to be “worrying”, a rise of one percentage point from November.

Meanwhile, 45 per cent of those questioned are currently saving into UK accounts regularly.

Overall, the Savings Index noted a score of 83, compared to the 87 seen in November, with a particularly dramatic fall seen in the Importance of Saving Index.

This particular sub-index dropped 12 points to 86, although an improvement in the Savings Environment Index was noted.

“December is clearly a busier month for retailers, so there is no surprise that the importance of saving decreased in the run-up to Christmas,” Andy Hutchinson, head of savings for Nationwide, states.

Mr Hutchinson points out that the decline in saving activity could also be attributed to the fact “that December 2009 was the last month before VAT increased back up to 17.5 per cent from 15 per cent”, giving some people the incentive to make large purchases before the start of 2010.

Adding this Christmas is often an expensive time of year for families, those who are looking towards placing money into ISA accounts and other saving options may be interested in his comments that families should look to start putting away for the future as quickly as possible.

However, Ed Bowsher, head of consumer finance at lovemoney.com, recently claimed that Britons are placing a greater priority on clearing debts owed on credit cards and other forms of borrowing as they take a poor view of the rate of interest attached to accounts.

UK Price Comparison website Which4U – Compare Credit Cards, Savings Accounts, Fixed Rate Bonds, Bank Accounts, ISAs, Loans, Mortgages, Insurance, TV & Broadband and Gas/Electric bills to find the best UK deals

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/saving-seen-as-less-important-1713046.html

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Saving confidence ‘on the up’

January 13, 2010 by admin  
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A significant number of people are looking to save more money over the course of 2010, it has been revealed.

Britons are taking an increasingly positive approach towards saving, new research has shown – and such a trend appears to be particularly the case among men.

Such is the assertion of NS&I which points towards findings indicating that just over a quarter (27 per cent) of people claim they are likely to place more money in saving accounts over the course of 2010 then they were able to do in 2009.

However, men appear to be leading the way when it comes to setting money aside, as 30 per cent state they will boost savings in UK accounts over the coming year. Not only does this represent a rise from the 25 per cent who felt this way last autumn, it is also the first improvement in saving confidence to have been recorded since spring 2008.

On the other hand, just under a quarter (24 per cent) of women state they will save more – the same figure recorded in the previous NS&I survey.

On a geographical basis, those living in the north-east, East Anglia, Greater London and Wales are those most optimistic about saving.

However, confidence about tucking money into cash ISAs and other saving products falls among residents in the south-west. With only 22 per cent of people thinking they will set more cash aside, saving confidence here is the lowest recorded in Britain.

Commenting on the findings, Tim Mack, savings spokesperson for NS&I, states: “People are increasingly confident that they will save more over the next year than they have done in the last year. Improving prospects in 2010 may be one reason, or it could be that people are taking the new year as an opportunity to review and refresh their finances and to increase their savings to boost their financial security.”

Research released by Abbey last December showed the average Briton was putting £198 away each month, a rise of 21 per cent from that saved at the beginning of the year.

UK Price Comparison website Which4U – Compare Credit Cards, Savings Accounts, Fixed Rate Bonds, Bank Accounts, ISAs, Loans, Mortgages, Insurance, TV & Broadband and Gas/Electric bills to find the best UK deals

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/saving-confidence-on-the-up-1713039.html

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How Can I Open Bank Accounts?

January 13, 2010 by admin  
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Opening bank account isn’t difficult; you should know that almost all banks follow “Open Bank Account Formula”. In this article you will learn how to open bank account in person or online in 7 steps.

Step 1: Choose an Institution

Shop around to make the right choice. Determine what kind of account you need: a free checking account or a saving account. Should you use a credit union? Get an open bank account with them, who have the features you want.

Step 2: Go to the Bank or Website

The best way to get all information about bank – is to visit their Website. You can search on Google. The advantage of online bank account – that you can use it anywhere, anytime. Opening bank account in person you will have opportunity to visit them only in business hours.

Step 3: Pick the Product You Want

There is a variety of account services and types that you can match and mix.  They usually have funny names which you should know. It’s very important to choose the right one.

Opening bank account on a Website you will have to drill down to the product that is right for you. You can open this account in three steps; just click “Open Bank Account”, then “Checking”, and finally “Free Checking”. Opening bank account in person you chat with a teller, who can help you the best account for you.

Step 4: Provide Your Information

Don’t forget to provide some information to the bank, opening an account. Bank accounts can’t be opened without certain details about you – like your name, birthday, identification numbers or Social Security Number in the U.S., besides they may ask you for a government ID or Driver’s License number.

Opening an account online, don’t forget to type the information into a textbox.

Step 5: Agree to Terms

You will have to accept responsibility for certain actions and agree to abide by certain rules. You should know what you are getting into, because it comes to your money. Opening bank accounts online you just click an “I Agree” (or similar) button.

Step 6: Print, Sign, and Mail (If Applicable)

If you are opening an account in person you don’t need this step. In case of opening an account online, before the account is opened, you’ll have to print, sign, and mail a document to the bank. Your account is not active until bank receives the documents.

Step 7: Congratulate Yourself

So now you are an owner of a new account. Just wait for some days or weeks and bank will process your paperwork. Then they’ll mail you checkbooks and debit cards anything you need for the account.

So, now you can see that opening an account isn’t hard, just complete the required steps.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/how-can-i-open-bank-accounts-1708866.html

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Personal Internet Banking: Secure Yourself

January 12, 2010 by admin  
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Personal Internet banking can certainly make things a lot easier, but you want to make sure that you protect yourself so that no third party can access your personal information and end up being able to get in to your account and perhaps taking your money. There are a few tips for personal Internet banking in particular that you are going to want to be aware of and which will be helpful to you here.

Remember

There are a few things that you want to remember to do and not do when it comes to personal Internet banking. For one, for the best personal banking, you want to start off by ensuring that you have the right security software installed on your computer, and then make sure that you keep it updated. This is important because it will keep viruses from getting on to your computer, so that hackers will not be able to get on your computer.

You should also change your access code to your online banking on a regular basis, so others will have less chance of finding out what it is and accessing your account. Regularly check your transaction history or statements for any unusual activity, and if you notice transactions that you do not remember, you should act on these immediately and make sure that someone has not committed identity theft on you.

Another tip when it comes to personal Internet banking is to never access Internet banking via links in emails. A legitimate bank will never ever send you an email saying that you need to enter in personal information or follow a link anywhere, and so you will want to delete these emails right away or better yet report them. Never write your access code down in a place where others would easily be able to find it, and yet make sure that you have it written down in a spot where you could find it if you needed it.

Personal Internet banking can be safe and successful, as long as you keep these tips in mind and protect yourself always when you are doing your banking online. There are so many dangers on the Internet that we all need to be aware of, and especially when we are dealing with such valuable information. You will practically never have to go into an actual bank again, if you have access to a computer and the Internet and use caution and common sense when banking online.

If you love this article, you will also love another article written by this article’s author on metal file cabinet and office furniture file cabinets.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/personal-internet-banking-secure-yourself-1705852.html

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The Benefits of Consumer Receivable Financing Part 2

January 11, 2010 by admin  
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The previous article on the benefits of consumer contract financing was concluded by citing three specific benefits associated with factoring consumer contracts (ie. financing consumer receivables, retail installment contracts, consumer notes, etc.). Those three benefits were: bad debt elimination, consumer contract processing and meeting increase demand. There are many other benefits associated with consumer contract financing which will be mentioned in this article.

~ You can take advantage of early payment discounts. Consumer receivable financing may very well allow you to take advantage of early payment terms offered by your suppliers. By enhancing your cash flow through consumer receivable financing you may be able to save two percent of your raw materials cost because you will have the cash to pay bills withing ten days. This in turn can reduce your financing costs.

~ You can take advantage of volume discounts. Another advantage, for example, of financing your retail installment contracts, is that you will be able to buy in greater volume from your suppliers because of your improved cash flow position. By “cashing out” your retail installment contracts withing days after the contracts are written, rather than waiting one, two or even three years or more to be paid, you will be able to experience first hand the “time value of money”. Thus, you will be able to take advantage of volume discounts offered by your suppliers.

~ No loss of equity. By factoring your consumer notes to provide the capital you need for growth, you will not be giving up any equity in your company. Many companies find themselves looking for venture capital, sometimes because they think this is the best or only option they have. However, while venture capital certainly has its advantages, with venture capital you will have to give up equity in your company, as well as take on unwanted partners. Unwanted partners and loss of equity can be avoided entirely by selling your consumer notes; but, maintaining complete ownership of your business.

~ You don’t incur any debt. When you factor consumer contracts (consumer receivables, retail installment contracts or consumer notes) you do not incur debt because factoring is not a loan. This keeps your balance sheet clean, and thereby puts you in a more favorable position than you would otherwise be in, should you opt to apply for a loan or line of credit, sometime latter on in the life of your business. Likewise, should you ultimately decide to sell your company, your balance sheet would not reflect debt, since once again, factoring does not involve a loan.

~ Factoring consumer contracts enables you to more effectively build your credit. For example, once you begin financing your consumer receivables, your cash flow will improve. This will enable you to begin to pay your bills on time, and this in turn will position you to establish and/or improve your credit. The logic of this process would be to improve your chances of getting credit terms from suppliers, as well as improving your ability to acquire conventional financing in the future.

 

Dr. Anthony F. Cicone, the owner of Access Funding Center, Inc. (http://www.accessfundingcenter.com) received his certification in the cash flow industry on Feb. 14, 1996 through the International Factoring Institute, Center for Business and Professional Development at the Open University. At that time, Dr. Cicone was conferred a Diploma as a Certified Factoring Specialist (CFS).

On April 2, 1996, Dr. Cicone was enrolled as a member of the National Association of Factoring Professionals.

On May 14, 1999, Access Funding Center, Inc. was incorporated in the state of South Carolina.

Dr. Cicone was named “top grossing broker” for MFSI, for 2002
Dr. Cicone has been the subject of several articles in the American Cash Flow Journal. Dr Cicone also actively contributes articles to the American Cash Flow Journal.

In January of 2003 the American Cash Flow Association designated Dr. Cicone as a Master Consultant in the areas of Consumer Receivables and Unsecured Business Loans.

Also in January of 2003, Dr. Cicone achieved the highest level of recognition in the cash flow industry when he was named to the Million Dollar Club.

In July 2003, Dr. Cicone became the founding president of the South Carolina Chapter of the American Cash Flow Association.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/banking-articles/the-benefits-of-consumer-receivable-financing-part-2-1701392.html

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