Main content

How having a flutter is about to get less attractive

The latest personal finance news, including why having a flutter is about to get less attractive and why banks do not always press charges against staff involved in theft.

On Money Box with Paul Lewis: How having a flutter on the Premium Bonds is about to get less attractive. The notional interest rate earned by the 拢60 billion of Premium bonds which pays the prize fund is to be cut from 1.35% to 1.25% from the June draw. And the chances of winning per bond each month will be cut from 1:26,000 to 1:30,000. Jonquil Lowe Lecturer in Personal Finance at The Open University and Anna Bowes, Savings Champion join the programme.

Two men were given suspended sentences for stealing a total of 拢180,000 from elderly customers of NatWest Bank. An insider at the bank who gave them account details was never prosecuted as the bank formally withdrew the allegations against her. She no longer works for NatWest. The customers got all their money back. Are banks doing enough to tackle staff involved in taking money from their customers? Chris Skinner, from the Financial Services Club, speaks to the programme.

From 6th April the first 拢1000 of interest paid on savings will be tax free. It's called the Personal Savings Allowance. Another change from the same date means that the interest on savings will always be paid gross with no tax deducted. But what if your savings are massive and earn more than the allowance? HMRC will collect the tax it reckons is due by changing your tax code (if you have one). But many listeners are complaining that the estimates it uses for future interest received are little more than guesses. There is a different savings allowance for higher rate taxpayers. Anita Monteith from the ICAEW explains the tax coding implications.

Money saved in some auto-enrolment pension funds could be at risk if an employer uses a trust to run its scheme rather than what is called a group personal pension. They are called Master Trusts but their small size and limited regulation means that if they go bust the money saved up in them by employees for their retirement could be taken by creditors or at least used to pay for winding up costs. Pensions expert Henry Tapper, and Christine Hallett, Carey Pensions, debate the issues.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Apr 2016 21:00

Chapters

  • Tax on savings

    New tax rules on savings is not good news for all

    Duration: 05:21

  • Crime at Banks

    Why do banks not prosecute more staff guilty of theft?

    Duration: 04:20

  • Master Trusts

    Are certain auto-enrolment pension funds completely safe?

    Duration: 07:20

  • Premium Bonds

    With changes to premium bonds, are they still a good investment?

    Duration: 05:34

Related Links

Personal savings allowance

Master trusts:

The Pensions regulator -聽
Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association -聽


Premium bonds

NS&I -聽

Natwest story

Financial Ombudsman -聽
Action Fraud -聽

Broadcasts

  • Sat 2 Apr 2016 12:04
  • Sun 3 Apr 2016 21:00

The Death of Retirement

The Death of Retirement

Money Box explores what retirement might look like in the future,

Download this programme

Subscribe to this programme or download individual episodes.

Podcast