LONDON (Dow Jones)–U.K. house prices rose in the early weeks of February, but U.K. property estate agency Rightmove reports that the 0.9% monthly increase was the lowest February rise in the five-year history of the survey, suggesting would-be house buyers are cautious following the Bank of England’s surprise January rate increase.

Three interest rate rises since August have cooled the housing market sufficiently to stabilise house price inflation and begin to narrow regional disparities, the latest FT house price index shows.

FIRST-time buyers looking to get on to the property ladder look to be facing more misery as house prices continue to rocket.

With Barclays Stock Broker you can select from a wide range of investments with varying levels of risk, reward and protection. You’ll also get access to a full range of equities, CFDs & Financial Spreads plus advanced tools and a professional platiform for trading.

Products:

Equities
Investment Notes
CFDs / Spread Trading
Funds / iShares (ETFs)
Covered Warrants

Barclays Online Banking is convenient, secure and free

Barclays Online Banking gives you the freedom to bank when you want and saves you time by avoiding queuing at a branch. You can pay bills, check statements and transfer money between your accounts and set up automatic payments such as standing orders. They also offer an Online Banking Guarantee and a helpdesk to call if you get stuck.

Digital, or online banking is fast becoming the most convenient way to look after your finances, and it is really easy to use.

The “phenomenal” growth in internet banking statistics suggests that confidence in internet banking is growing, claims head of Lloyds Internet Banking. Anita Hockin, head of internet banking at Lloyds TSB, said: “The growth of internet banking is phenomenal and this year is set to break records.” Just over half (54 per cent) of Lloyds TSB consumers claimed they used internet banking as the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In a survey of over 2,000 adults, research from Lloyds TSB Internet banking found that 68 per cent of those surveyed said that they conducted the majority of their banking online.

If you’ve been having problems with internet banking or if you’re looking for a bank that offers a comprehensive guide on it’s internet banking service, then nationwide internet banking may just be what you’ve been looking for. They have a very helpful guide which can be found at http://www.nationwide.co.uk/internet_banking/default.htm. They also have an A-Z for all their services that they offer.

That’s what we found out when we surveyed a number of students who were asked to say which services they enjoyed the most from their banks. The students metioned services such as online banking, credit cards and excellent customer service. This was an informal survey which was conducted as part of a student project for a course.

After the merger of Halifax and Bank of Scotland on 10th September 2001, HBOS has 22 million customers the Bank of Scotland is the UK’s largest mortgage and savings provider as well as being a major player in the provision of new current accounts and credit cards in the United Kingdom.

Halifax which is part of the Bank of Scotland, announced today it is to become the first bank to actively seek out holders of so-called dormant savings or current accounts. The bank is launching a campaign aimed at reuniting customers with forgotten accounts. The Bank said that it will try to reunite its customers with cash held in around 110,000 dormant accounts across the UK.

Over £44 million of “forgotten” money is held in old and unused accounts.

They will also mail dormant account customers and make claims forms available in all Halifax and Bank of Scotland branches.