Banking Questions and Answers

Banks, credit cards and credit scores: get your money concerns and queries answered by our personal finance experts.

Home improvement loans

Choosing the best home improvement loans, whether they be secured or unsecured personal loans, can be tricky – read our guide to help make sense of home improvement loans.

Home Insurance for Unoccupied Property

Compare unoccupied house insurance and find out what it covers and how you'll be protected. Learn about how your home insurance policy can be affected if you're not around and your home is left unoccupied.

Current Account Switching: your guide to the 7-day guarantee

Many people stick with the same account their parents opened for them, but the 7-day current account switch guarantee could change all of that.

National Savings and Investment (NS&I) explained

National Savings and Investment, or NS&I, is a government backed national form of saving account, aiming to give savers a secure space to store their money.

Should I remortgage?

You should look to remortgage to a new deal when your current introductory mortgage rate is close to ending, but not before - to understand why, read our Uswitch guide.

Remortgage to get a buy-to-let property

Remortgaging to buy a rental property, or a buy-to-let property, could be one way to raise enough cash for a mortgage deposit or possibly to buy it outright.

Who are the biggest mortgage lenders in the UK?

The largest UK mortgage providers are often Lloyds, Santander, Nationwide, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland and HSBC

Can I get a mortgage without a credit check?

Your credit score will be looked at when you apply for any type of mortgage and often have more stringent lending criteria to loans - Read the Uswitch Guide

Discount mortgages

Mortgage rate discounts and deals give you a cheaper interest rate than the lender’s standard variable rate (SVR) for a period of between two and five years.

What size mortgage can I get and how much can I borrow?

Finding the size of mortgage you can get before you start house hunting is a sensible move and can help you set your budget.

Is remortgaging worth it?

Remortgaging to a new deal and new lender can save you lots of Money, it can also land you with Early repayment charges, exit fees and high SVR

Fee-free and low-fee mortgages

The mortgage set up fee, also known as the mortgage arrangement fee, is the cost the bank or building society charges for setting up the mortgage

How to Get a Second Charge or Second Mortgage

Second charge or a second mortgage is a loan secured on your home and can be alternative to remortgaging. Our Uswitch guide explains the benefits.

No deposit mortgages

No deposit mortgages are mortgages that give you a 100% Loan to Value ratio (LTV), aimed at customers who do not have a deposit to put up to buy a home

How to apply for a mortgage

To apply for a mortgage you need as minimum as three months bank statements, proof of income and your passport or any other identification

House valuation – find out what your home is worth

A house valuation will tell you about the property and how much it is worth. Our guide explains how to get a free house valuation.

When should I fix a mortgage rate?

Fixed rate mortgages rates are getting increasingly competitive, with rates at all time lows, but is 2015 the year to fix your rate?

Remortgaging: The Best Deals and Debt Consolidation

Remortgaging your property can offer a better deal on your monthly repayments or a chance to consolidate your debts. Compare remortgage deals with Uswitch.

Credit Card Glossary A-Z | Jargon Busting Credit Cards

Fed up with credit card jargon? Read our credit card glossary to get a simple explanation of everything from APR to Transfer fees.

Cashback Credit Cards - A guide to Cashback

With cashback credit cards, you get cash back on your spending - learn more and use our credit card comparison tool to find the right one for you.

What is APR, How Does APR Work and What it Means?

What is annual percentage rate (or APR)? How does it work? Our guide explains how APR works and what you need to know about it if you're borrowing money.

How to buy a house

To buy a house you need to set a budget, find a home you can afford, apply for a mortgage and transfer funds to the seller

How long do I have to save to get a mortgage?

The average deposit size to get a mortgage is generally 20% of the property value, which means you will likely need somewhere between £20,000 and £50,000

Best credit cards for 2018 Christmas shopping and January sales

What's the best credit cards for Christmas shopping? We look at cards that will reward you for spending or let you borrow for free.

What does the base rate cut mean for your finances?

The Bank of England cut interest rates to 0.10% in March 2020. The lowest rate it's ever been. This could mean cheaper mortgage payments but much lower returns on savings.

Interest Rate UK - What to Expect and How to Prepare

The Bank of England base rate is the official borrowing rate and currently stands at 0.1%. This base rate influences UK interest rates, which can increase (or decrease) mortgage rates and your monthly repayments.

Compare mortgage protection insurance with Uswitch

Mortgage protection insurance is one way to help cover your debt repayments in the event of losing your income. Learn more about mortgage protection cover.

Prepaid Travel Cards - the Best Way to Spend Overseas?

Prepaid travel cards are plastic payment cards pre-loaded with currency that enable you to spend as if you were using a credit or debit card

Uswitch Current Account Awards 2013

Find the UK's best current account providers, as voted by customers. The Uswitch Current Account Awards shine a light on the best current account providers.

Get the best euro exchange rate on a credit card

What's the best way to spend as you travel around Europe? Take the euros as cash or spend on a travel credit card?

First Credit Card - How to Establish Credit History

Applying for a first credit card can have its complications - our guide can help with the preparation needed to build up your credit history

How to Find the Best Card for Travel Abroad

Credit cards are convenient for making travel arrangements, and can also allow you a little more spending leeway when you are on holiday

Money Transfer Credit Cards - Interest Free Cash Loans

Can money transfer credit cards give you interest free cash loans? Read the Uswitch guide to find the best interest-free money transfer credit cards

Student car insurance |Taking your car to university - Uswitch

Our guide explains how to save money on student car insurance if you're taking your car with you when you move away to study. Compare insurance quotes here.

Current Accounts, Savings or ISAs? Which is best for you?

Can your current account provide a better rate of return than your savings? When interest rates are rock bottom the answer could be 'yes'. Find out more

3 tips on credit card pre-approval process

Learn more about the credit card pre-approval process and see if it can really help your chances of getting a credit card if you have bad credit.

Should I take cash with me on holiday?

The world of travel money is notoriously difficult. Do you take money or change there? Do you take cash, card or cheque? We answer your questions.

Understanding the credit card summary box

Credit card comparison tables can be quite tricky, so it's worth knowing how to read the credit card summary box to decode the legal jargon.

Credit Cards Q&A - Get Your Credit Card Questions Answered

Confused about credit cards or just want more information? Use our Q&A to find the answers you're looking for with our money experts

Why have I been refused credit? | Credit rating Q and A

I've been refused a credit card, how can I find out why? Read our guide to see what our money experts have to say about being refused credit and what to do.

Is it bad to have too many credit cards? | Credit score Q&A

Is it bad to have too many credit cards? Get the answers from our money experts and find out how the number of credit cards could affect your credit rating.

Mortgage Rates and Interest Rates: How They Affect You

Are mortgage interest rates going up or down? What kind of mortgage has the best fixed rate, tracker, offset? Compare mortgage interest rates

Moving home tips | Your guide to moving home - Uswitch

Moving home can be among the most stressful things to do, but a lot of that stress can be mitigated by a bit of planning in advance.

Deposit Protection Schemes - Guide to Renting a Home

The deposit protection scheme is a vital safeguard for the millions of tenants renting their property across the UK. Learn how it all works in our guide.

Mortgage Market Review - What is the MMR?

The mortgage market review is a fundamental change to the UK's mortgage market, but what is the mortgage market review or MMR?

NISAs - The new combined ISA

NISAs were one of the big announcements in the 2014 budget, but what are they exactly, how do they differ from ISAs and savings, and are they right for you?

Fixed Rate Mortgages - Guide - Uswitch

Is a fixed rate mortgage right for you? If you're not sure Uswitch is here to help. Find out all about the advantages and disadvantages

Car Loans and Car Financing. What is my best option?

Buying a car requires a large amount of money so if you don't have the cash, a large personal loan can seem like the easiest option, but is it the best?

Tracker mortgages - what are they and how do they work?

Your questions on tracker mortgages. Find out what a tracker mortgage is, see tracker mortgage rates and compare tracker mortgage deals with Uswitch

What is LTV? How to Calculate LTV - Loan to Value Ratio

LTV, or loan-to-value, is the size of mortgage compared to how much your property is worth. Do have enough equity to qualify for the best mortgage rates?

Level term life insurance | Term insurance

Level term life insurance covers a fixed period with a fixed payout. Read our guide to help find you the cheapest life insurance on the market.

Credit unions | What is a credit union? Uswitch explains

Credit unions can sometimes offer better rates than the high street and help those struggling with debt - read our guide to see if they can save you money

Mortgage Guide: Essential Information on Mortgages

Looking for mortgage information? Use the mortgage guide for the essential facts you need to make an informed choice about your mortgage today.

Car Loans - Compare and Find Cheap Loans for your Car

Wondering how to buy a new car? Read our guide to car loans and other financing options, including hire purchase plans, personal contract purchase

Payday loans: everything you need to know

You may be tempted to borrow money using a payday loan, but with interest rates as high as 2,000% APR or more they could prove very expensive!

Claims Management Companies - PPI

Do claims management companies keep calling you? Find out why, what they do and if they can be useful for you. Claims management companies have been in the news since the PPI mis-selling scandal broke but how do claims management companies work?

Mortgage costs - how to compare mortgages

Mortgages are often complicated products, with a lot to take into account. But, you can compare the cost of different mortgages by looking at monthly repayments.

How to get the best exchange rates

You could get the best exchange rate for your travel money by shopping around and buying currency at the right time

How to get a mortgage

To get a mortgage you need to have at least a 5% deposit for a home as well as meeting affordability and credit score criteria with a lender.

How to pay for your holidays

Paying for a holiday can be one of the most expensive decisions of the year: flights, hotels and travel money. What's the best way to pay for it all?

How can you manage your finances in Brexit Britain?

As Britain leaves the European Union the only certainty ahead is uncertainty, we explain what it means for you and how you can try to protect your finances

Quick Access to Cash Your Options

There are few loan companies that will give you instant decisions - the ones that do will often leave you saddled with an extremely high rate of interest

Holiday loans

Wondering how you can finance your next holiday? Explore three of the main options available to you!

Borrowing with a poor credit history

With a bad credit history it can be difficult, but not impossible to borrow money, whether it's a credit card, loan or mortgage.

Loans for People with Poor Credit History

Poor credit history? Take a step to improve your credit score by registering on electoral roll. This lowers your risk of fraud in the eyes of lenders

Alternatives to payday loans

Payday loans have come under close scrutiny, because of their very high effective interest rates. What are your alternatives to payday loans?

Loans for Medical Procedures to Pay Off Medical Bills

Loans for medical procedures is not available on the NHS. However, many medical procedures offer their own financing plans. Take a look at our guide

Wedding loans for credit - finance your wedding

Looking for a wedding loan for bad credit? Read on to learn more about what your options are for getting a wedding loan even if you have bad credit.

Logbook Loans - Secured Lending For Your Vehicle

What are logbook loans? Consider taking out a logbook loan? Read our guide to learn more about logbook loans and what the alternatives financing option.

Should You Get Your Mortgage From Your Bank?

Your bank already knows your circumstances and can get an idea of your reliability with less effort when it comes to assessing your mortgage application

PSD2 - what is the second payment services directive?

The second payment services directive, known as PSD2, is a plan to change up the retail banking sector, and give consumers more choice.

Mortgage Terminology - A to Z - What You Need to Know

We have put together a mortgage glossary to help even the experienced homeowner get to grips with all of the important terminology

Do you need a mortgage broker?

A mortgage broker is someone who compares the market for mortgages and provides impartial advice to help you find the right deal

Should you make mortgage overpayments?

Mortgage overpayments can save you thousands of pounds in interest, but there are some potential fees to consider before doing so - Read the Uswitch Guide

Who can get a mortgage?

Mortgages are typically most accessible to people aged between 25 and 40, who have a larger than average and reliable income and sizeable savings

Could you afford your mortgage if rates rise?

The mortgage interest rate determines how much your monthly repayments will cost. The higher your interest rate, the higher your mortgage repayments.

Step by step guide to buying a home

In this step by step guide to buying a home, we explain different steps that one needs to take before buying a home

Mortgages for Contractor, Self Employed or a Limited Company

Mortgage affordability criteria requires a proof of regular salary, sufficient income enough to meet your mortgage repayments

How does a mortgage application work?

Discover what is needed to complete a successful mortgage application. What information lenders need to accept, process and approve your application

What Mortgage Fees are there and how do they work?

The final true cost of you home move can be calculated when you consider and understand all fees associated with your mortgage - Read the Uswitch Guide

How to get independent mortgage advice

Independent mortgage advice is a helpful way of finding the right deal for you amid a complicated and overwhelming range of home buying options.

Joint tenancy home buying

A joint tenancy when home buying means you have joint ownership with someone else sharing the ownership, responsibilities and rights.

How much deposit do I need to buy a house?

Having the right amount of deposit to buy a house can make a huge difference in getting the best mortgage deal. Read on how to save for a mortgage deposit.

Credit card charges explained

Credit card charges can affect your ability to apply for credit and your credit rating. Find out how to understand credit charges in our Uswitch guide

Mortgages UK - Uswitch

How do mortgages in the UK work? Who are the biggest lenders and what do you need to know about the British mortgage market?

What puts you at risk of being a fraud victim?

Types of scam

Financial fraud takes on many forms and scammers are always creating new ones, but there are few common scams you should be aware of.

Credit card fraud: the biggest card frauds in history

Credit card security has improved but card fraud is still on the rise, we take a look at two of the biggest credit card frauds ever

What can I do if I'm a victim of fraud?

If you've been a victim of fraud where you've been left out of pocket, you should be able to get your money back.

Cash rich but credit poor? Get a better credit score

It's possible to be financially well-off but have a poor credit score, which could stop you from getting the best credit cards and loans.

Bank Charges - How to Claim Back Bank Charges

You can claim back on bank charges that arise from going over your overdraft limit or a bounced cheque or direct debit payment

Bridging Finance for Mortgages - Uswitch

A bridging loan is a form of financing that allows you to borrow money on a short-term basis in the gap between buying a new home and selling your old one.

What's the best frequent flyer reward: Avios or Virgin?

There are two main UK credit card airline rewards schemes: Avios (the new Airmiles) and Virgin Miles. Which one is better?

Cashback is being cut back: which cards are safe?

RBS and Capital One cardholders are seeing their cashback and rewards scaled back, but why? And is your card safe?

How to change your bank account - alternatives to the 'big four'

It has never been easier to switch your current account to get a better deal, but who is challenging the old big banks and offering these better deals?

Questions about credit cards

There is a lot of confusion around credit cards and a lot of questions around a few key terms.

What is a minimum repayment on credit

The minimum payment on a credit card can vary but it is typically the highest of the total balance under a fixed amount or the interest

Cashback credit card wars - Santander vs AmEx

Cashback credit cards allow you to earn back money as you spend as a reward, but which card will give you the most back? American Express or Santander?

Longest 0% balance transfer cards - which is best?

Several 0% balance transfer cards are currently offering interest free periods as long as three years - we take a closer look to decide which one is best.