first direct's internet banking service is number one

first direct's internet banking service is number one

first direct's internet banking service has been rated the best in the country in the latest results from an independent survey of online banking customers.

94% of first direct's internet banking customers rate the service as excellent or very good - nearly 20% higher than the average online bank score of 76%.

The key factors behind the top place are the internet banking service's ease of use, range of services and customer support.

The Virtual Online Banking Survey (VOBS) also found that www.firstdirect.com is by far the most highly rated bank website, in terms of providing product and service information to customers and non-customers. In fact, 64% of all internet banking customers described first direct's site as excellent or very good, 11% ahead of the nearest competition.

Peter Simpson, first direct's marketing director says: "Internet banking is all about convenience. The VOBS survey confirms what our customers already know - the first direct internet service is easy and useful. It's also great to see that our service ethos is valued as much by online customers as our regular telephone service users."

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER'S PERSONAL LOANS 'HIGHLY COMMENDED'

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER'S PERSONAL LOANS 'HIGHLY COMMENDED'

Alliance & Leicester’s personal loans have been Highly Commended at Personal Finance & Savings magazine’s recent prestigious awards ceremony in London.

Alliance & Leicester was Highly Commended in the ‘Best Personal Loan Provider’ category.

The awards, which are voted for by the magazine’s 35,000 readers, are now in their third year. Commenting on the award Martin Fagan, Editor of Personal Finance and Savings magazine said: “These awards are voted for by our readers and so are truly representative of people’s experience and views regarding financial services.”

Andy Bayes, Head of Personal Loans at Alliance & Leicester said: “We are very pleased to have been Highly Commended by Personal Finance & Savings magazine in the Best Personal Loan Provider category. It is a tribute to the hard work of all our staff and our excellent product.

“We have recently announced the reduction in our personal loan rate to 5.9% APR – there is no lower rate in the UK – and hope to feature just as strongly in next year’s awards.”

For consumers considering applying for a loan or considering switching providers, Alliance & Leicester's website, www.alliance-leicester.co.uk provides access to many useful tools to help and guide them with their financial choices.

The Loan Calculator enables consumers to work out how much they can afford to borrow and decide over which period they wish to spread their repayments.

Alliance & Leicester personal loan customers can benefit from the following:
- A personal loan from as little as £1,000 to as much as £20,000
- A typical APR of 5.9% for telephone and internet applications on loans from £7,500 to £20,000
- Repayment over one to five years
- Fixed monthly repayments for the period of the loan
- Quick and easy application, online, via the phone or via a branch
- No arrangement fees
- Optional loan protection for added peace of mind

For further information, consumers should call 0800 068 6611 or visit the website: www.alliance-leicester.co.uk

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER PERSONAL LOANS SCOOPS TOP PERSONAL FINANCE AWARD

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER PERSONAL LOANS SCOOPS TOP PERSONAL FINANCE AWARD

Alliance & Leicester has been voted ‘Best Personal Loans Provider’ for 2005 by the readers of ‘Personal Finance & Savings’ magazine, it was announced today.

The Award, which will be presented in May, builds on the success from 2004, in which Alliance & Leicester were Highly Commended in the same category.

The Awards were voted on by more than 6,200 readers over a three month period. Alliance & Leicester beat Tesco and Halifax into second and third place respectively. Interestingly, only Lloyds TSB and Nat West were the only representatives of the ‘Big Four’ in the Top Ten reaching 8th and 9th place respectively.

Andy Bayes, Head of Alliance & Leicester Personal Loans said: "We are delighted to have been voted ‘Best Personal Loan Provider’ by the readers of ‘Personal Finance & Savings’ magazine. We pride ourselves on giving our customers a great loan experience, both in terms of the customer service they receive and great value we offer.

"We operate in a very competitive market and we have to be at the top of our game to get recognised in this way. To enable us to build on this success, and as part of our commitment to keep all our call centres in the UK, we are investing and creating a significant number of new jobs in our ‘Personal Loans Centre of Excellence’ in Leicester."