Shared banking

BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 10 May, 2003 at 1204 BST.

Shared banking experiment to end

An experiment which allowed banks in rural areas to share facilities is to end, after an independent audit found it had limited take-up.

Could it mean more bank closures?

We spoke to Derek French of the Campaign for Community Banking and Ian Mullen of the British Bankers' Association.

Click here for the full story.

 Listen to the audio

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Critical illness cover

The cost of critical illness cover is rising, up by 50% in the past year. Penny Haslam asked: Is it still worth taking out?

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 Listen to the audio

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Action call on "fat cat" pay

Executive pay deals are damaging the value of our pensions, according to the National Association of Pension Funds.

We heard why shareholders are now being urged to vote down bosses pay awards.

We spoke to Toby Keynes of the UK Shareholders Association, and the NAPF's Geoff Lindey.

Related stories:

Executive pay surges ahead

Government's fat cat crackdown

Investor's get tough on fat cats

 Listen to the audio

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ABI criticises savings products

The Association of British Insurers says government plans for low-cost savings products are unrealistic.

Capped charges of 1% cannot be achieved, according to investment bosses.

We spoke to two providers with opposing views, Virgin's Gordon Maw and Norwich Union's Robert Fletcher.

 Listen to the audio

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Holiday money

With the value of the Euro surging ahead, we looked at the issues affecting your holiday money this year, ahead of Monday's Money Box Live.

We spoke to Bear Stearns Currency Analyst Steve Barrow and travel writer Alison Rice.

 Listen to the audio

Related programme:

Money Box Live: Holiday money Q&A

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OTHER NEWS

Axa staff threaten strike

Staff at the insurer Axa have threatened to strike if plans go ahead to make them work until 65 or face a cut in their pension.

Asbestos victims welcome ruling

Asbestos victims in Scotland have welcomed a ruling that insurer Royal and Sun Alliance is liable for compensation claims.

Click here for the full story

Premium Bond limits raised

People will be able to invest up to £30,000 in Premium Bonds thanks to a change in the rules that comes into force on Monday.

Click here for the full story

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Reporter: Penny Haslam
Producer: Louise Greenwood