Current account charges to be made clearer

Banks bow to pressure from OFT and agree to implement changes

Halifax to cut overdraft penalties for 5m customers

Hefty charges for those who go into the red will be scrapped in favour of daily charges

Debt management companies under scrutiny

Government launches consultation on the unregulated debt management industry

Rightmove hits lift hope for housing market

Britain’s biggest property website records record number of hits as official figures show rising level of home sales

How to fund your postgraduate studies

We consider the options for those hoping to boost their prospects in a difficult jobs market

Post Office could protect from loan sharks

The Government needs to do far more to promote credit unions, and the Post Office needs a new role - it's a perfect fit

Loan sharks forced family into prostitution

As sources of lending dry up, many resort to borrowing from illegal lenders who charge huge penalties for missed payments

‘Loan shark said he would break my legs’

A £100 loan to buy a car stereo quickly turned into a £1,000 debt, with threats of violence and extortionate interest rates

Nama to write off €30bn of debt

Move will benefit taxpayer by reducing exposure to over-valued property assets

Card firms face ban on 'exploiting' debtors

Team of police, trading standards and Office of Fair Trading officials to be set up, pooling resources to counter scammers

Barclaycard reduces minimum repayment on credit cards

But borrowers will be worse off if they only repay 1.5 per cent of their debt

Beware bogus excuses from card companies

Consumers are urged to fight for their rights as an increasing number of insurance claims are rejected

Barclays takes axe to savings rates

The bank has cut savings rates, while Nationwide building society has increased the cost of its overdrafts

Bank rate on hold but loan rates up and savings down

Dearth of credit dampens Britain’s hopes

Bank lending to businesses fell in April and a Bank of England official has raised concern over access to finance

Britain's biggest debt-ridden towns

As the downturn deepens, debts on plastic and personal loans are piling up, but nowhere more so than in these hotspots