BANKS/FINANCE
Abbey
National Direct di@logue
A nicely laid out and easy to use site that offers instant
calculations and comparisons of all Abbey National Services from bank
accounts to life assurance. The easy step by step instructions lead
you through the complex calculations for both life cover and loans and
mortgages to give you a simple monthly payment plan. |
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| The bank account
comparison allows you to compare your account to Abbey National’s.
An ideal site for anyone planning to transfer their finances. |
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Bank
of Scotland
A basic site offering an insight into the Bank of Scotland and their
electronic banking service HOBS. The site is easy to use though a lack
of interactivity means that it has little use for illustrating and
planning your finances. |
Barclays
Bank
The main Barclays site including links to all their enterprises
including Barclaycard, BZW Investment and Barclay Square Shopping. The
Personal Banking section includes a helpful cash machine locator for
both the UK and the World. Exactly what you would expect from the
country’s largest clearing bank. |
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Halifax
An attractive site that includes lots of animations to promote not
only the company’s mortgage and investment business but also its
travel services. |
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LloydsTSB
Bank
This site is claimed to be under construction. Very rough around the
edges, we can only hope that it gets much better. It is included
within this listing purely because of Lloyds Bank’s position as a
leading bank. |
Midland
Bank
This site has very basic information on Midland’s services and
accounts yet it is laid out in a very simple fashion. If you want
detailed information on rates and facilities you will still have to
visit your local branch. The site includes an automated response form
geared towards youth and student services. |
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NatWest
Bank
The main site for the NatWest bank offering an introduction to their
wide range of financial services. It also includes access to the
online version of their Innovation Business magazine containing
articles for the forward thinking business as well as case studies and
views. |
Northern
Rock
Northern Rock have certainly broken the mould of staid and boring
financial sites as bright intensive graphics light up the screen.
Contents of the site include details of mortgages and investments. |
Royal
Bank of Scotland
A thorough site outlining the history and services of the Royal Bank
of Scotland. The site also includes an introduction into direct
banking by PC. The revolutionary service that allows Royal Bank of
Scotland customers to do their banking over the Internet. A UK first. |
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The
Bank of England
This site contains a wide variety of information pertaining to the
Bank of England from current press releases through to its history. As
well as sections outlining the production and use of banknotes the
site also contains electronic versions of many of its publications. |
TSB
A site mainly aimed at the student
market with a helpful guide for student life. The site also contains
information about TSB’s new PC banking service, however you do need
to subscribe to CompuServe to take advantage of it. |
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Swiss
Bank Corporation
A thorough site with updated share and SBC fund prices. Includes
information on the London FT All Share index updated daily. Also
provides information on private banking facilities and other services
from this major Swiss bank. |
| Woolwich |
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| The Woolwich site is
simple to use, outlining all of its services including Insurance,
Mortgages and Investments and a useful introduction to ISAs. |
Alliance
and Leicester
The building society’s main web site that contains a useful online
mortgage rate calculator as well as information about all its
mortgages and rates. The site is set to expand to include all their
services at the time of review only the mortgage section is
operational. |
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Birmingham
Midshires Building Society
Details of the Building Society’s mortgage and investment rates are
included within this site. In addition there is information about the
insurance and valuation services this firm offers. |
Bradford
and Bingley
A comprehensive guide to Direct Mortgages and Direct Savings offered
by the Bradford and Bingley. Laid out in a simple, easy to read format
full and thorough information is available here |
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Bristol
and West Building Society
An easy to use simple site that outlines the services offered along
with a glossary of some of the technical terms used. The site also
contains details about the society’s off shore bank; Bristol &
West International. |
Cheltenham
& Gloucester Building Society
A comprehensive site that includes a full guide to buying a house and
what to look for. As well as the expected information on mortgage and
investment products the site also includes a free Cheltenham &
Gloucester screensaver. |
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Nationwide
Building Society
The Nationwide site contains a search for your nearest Nationwide
branch and a comprehensive "Jargon Buster" to give users a
useful reference guide. There is also a free Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet to download to help you plan your finances. |
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Yorkshire
Building Society
An interesting site built around a theme of road signs, it provides
all the usual information about their products and services. |
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Venture
Capital World
A smart looking site offering investors and companies looking for
investment to find each other around the globe. Features a search
system which can be divided into countries, capital levels required,
market segment, and what the capital is to be used for. Also has
insider tips section and success stories. |
AXA
Insurance Company Ltd.
A comprehensive insurance company site offering on-line quotations for
both vehicle and household insurance. Includes a search for your local
broker. |
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Carquote
A car insurance site that submits your details to a variety of
insurance companies so that the most competitive quote can be
obtained. Submits details to 10 major insurance companies. |
Churchill
Insurance
The direct insurers web site including forms for free car and
household quotations. Nicely designed and simple to use. |
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Commercial
Union
The Commercial Union’s world wide site with a section detailing UK
insurance activities. The site includes information about the
company’s sponsorship activities. |
Cornhill
Insurance
This site details Cornhill’s sponsorship programs and surveys as
well as their insurance cover. Includes a list of their life and
pension fund prices and all their UK dealers. |
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Direct
Line Insurance
The direct insurers pages including e-mail based on line quoting. Also
includes calculators for loans and mortgages as well as interactive
games. |
General
Accident
This site includes a section on some of the more obscure claims made.
Links to General Accident Direct for details of policies and cover. |
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Guardian
Insurance
A general site offering details about all Guardian policies and
sponsorship activities. |
The
Insurance Mall
A general insurance site offering an insight into different types of
cover and the implications. The site also has a directory of insurance
agents in your local area. |
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Intersure
This company offers immediate insurance at discounted rates. Claims to
be the leading UK Internet Insurance site. |
Norwich
Union
A truly interactive site with the option of a clever 'Shockwave' home
page. Well worth a visit so download the 'Shockwave' plug-in when you
reach the site. As well as information on all of Norwich Union’s
policies it also includes interactive on line games. |
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Petwise
Specialist healthcare insurance for your pets from Swire Blanch.
Includes an online proposal form to complete. |
Sun
Alliance
Details of policies and financial results. The site also includes
details about commercial sponsorship and quotation forms. |
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