Savers with a fixed-rate cash Isa who don't use their full allowance immediately could lose much of their tax-free entitlement or pay steep penalties to keep it.
Thousands of savers with Santander and Alliance & Leicester (A&L) accounts with a combined balance of over £50,000 can withdraw their cash even if locked away.
Two former Northern Rock (NR) directors have been fined a combined £644,000 for publishing misleading mortgage arrears figures before the bank's collapse.