Help to Buy ISA

Nationwide is to cut the interest on its popular FlexDirect current account, in yet another blow to current account perks.

Over 40% of Nationwide's Help to Buy ISA accounts were opened in the final week before the deadline, as a last-minute rush saw over 300,000 applications at the building society alone – but if you missed out, you can still boost your savings with a Lifetime ISA.

Some 16-year-olds are struggling to open a Help to Buy ISA before the deadline at the end of this month because they haven't yet received their national insurance (NI) numbers. The problems come after a change to the way NI numbers are sent out earlier this year resulted in a massive backlog – if you're affected, here's what you can do about it.

The first cash Lifetime ISA has already proved popular with savers, with thousands opened in the first week of its launch.

Two new savings schemes being launched by the Government must come with clear guidance at the point of application to prevent people "mis-prioritising their finances", Martin Lewis has warned.

Halifax will once again chop the interest rate offered on its Help to Buy ISA to as low as 2% for new customers from 8 December this year, but this time existing customers will also feel the pinch.

The Government's Help to Buy mortgage guarantee scheme - part of its flagship programme to boost home ownership – will close to new mortgages on 31 December 2016, it was announced today.

First-time buyers will be able to get a Government bonus towards a first home in time to bolster their deposit when they exchange contracts under the new Lifetime ISA (LISA) scheme, which begins next year.

Interest rates on two different Santander products have been cut this week as customers continue to wonder whether the bank is preparing to reduce the headline rate on its flagship 123 current account from 3% to 2%.

Halifax has cut the interest rate of its Help to Buy ISA from 4% to 2.5% for new customers – but if you already have one, you can breathe a sigh of relief as existing customers won't be affected by the change.