Industry News - May, 2009

Scottish Widows has launched two new multi-manager funds into its range of guided pension funds.

The insurance services firm has announced the Scottish Widows Multi-Manager Diversity Fund and Scottish Widows Multi-Manager Select Boutiques Fund are now available.

A wide range of assets are invested in with the first fund, including cash, equities, property, bonds and comm... more...

Abbey has re-stated its commitment to helping businesses during the difficult economic climate. The bank has appointed a new regional director to oversee its liaisons with businesses in Yorkshire.

Neil Williams has taken on the role and is now responsible for managing corporate banking business for both Abbey and Alliance & Leicester through the latter's regional business centre network.

This set-up supports firms with a turnover above £1 million and is part of plans t... more...

The Faster Payments Service is celebrating its first birthday today and has chosen the occasion to reveal its achievements so far. CHAPS Clearing Company, which manages the same-day electronic payment scheme, has claimed the service is going from strength to strength.

More than 180 million payments have been made since the uninterrupted service launched, with a total value of just under £70 billion. In one day - March 2nd - five million payments collectively worth more than £... more...

All businesses in the UK that are part of Santander will undergo a rebranding next year. The financial services marketing strategy will see Abbey, Bradford & Bingley's savings business and Alliance & Leicester changing their names.

All of the companies will be known as Santander, with 1,300 Santander branches expected in Britain by the close next year. This will a... more...

Small companies have been given a boost after experts claimed a turning point has been reached across the sector. At a round table event Standard Life UK Smaller Companies Trust and Gartmore Growth Opportunities plc both predicted a positive future for small firms.

The financial services marketing event was held by the Association of Investment Companies (AIC). Organisers... more...

A series of presentations aimed at insurance brokers in the engineering sector has been announced. The events are being put on by Allianz Engineering, which is part of Allianz Insurance.

The Energy Performance of Buildings Regulations will be the subject of the insurance services marketing talks. A new survey from Allianz Engineering found that 66 per cent of brokers think they s... more...

A new online tool has been launched to provide assistance for advisers looking to save time. Friends Provident is behind the eSelect demo tool.

The interactive program offers demonstrations for its intuitive protection online business system, covering issues such as how to set up Income Protection and Term Assurance applications.

This step-by-step guide from the insurance se... more...

Standard Life has offered some tips to people used to giving out information themselves - financial advisers. The company has noted that many opportunities in the sector are currently presenting themselves.

In a financial services marketing statement, Standard Life explained that progress towards the implementation of the Legal Services Act 2007 in England and Wales has g... more...