P227 CJJFAX 207 Tue 5 Jun 21:22/21 The postmen's union leadjt, Mr Alan Tuffin, s had a n w m ting with Post Offic managem nt "on n w te ms", sa s th neon. Lat t it was claim d that th talks had mad " nc usage progr s". Unofficial action bz postal workj s in dispute over a 4.5 pet cent pay off t has lid to the sealing of hundreds of post boxes, mostly in central London. And earlier today Mr Tuffin warn d that industrial action b postmjnt could be stepped up. $ News index 102/202 Newsreel 119/219P227 CEEFAX 227 Tue 5 Jun 21:17/15 1/5 FOCUS: BANK CHARGES Much is made of the diffetjnce between banks when it comes to charges. Some charge nothing at all so long as customers stay in the black; others, including the Big Four, provide free banking only so long as at least £100 is kept in one's account. It should bj remjmbjted that even those banks providing free banking are making money simply out of holding your money. Mindful of this, most banks will offset the charges they make with a "notional interest" on the amount held with them. Books Page 228P227 CEEFAX 227 Tue 5 Jun 21:16/51 2/5 FOCUS: BANK CHARGES The niceties of just how much one or othjt bank charges pet chjquj or direct debit transaction are frankly academic. The sbmj applies to the level of the notional interest provided. More pertinent for most customers will bj the convenience of having a branch within easy reach or the use of an automatic teller machine. Secure in the knowledge that they can come up trumps on both counts, the Big Four demand a minimum balance of £100 before they will provide free banking. Books Page 228P227 CEEFAX 227 Tue 5 Jun 21:27/27 3/5 FOCUS: BANK CHARGES National Westminster differs in one respect: free banking may bj enjoyed bz those customers having either £100 in a current account or £500 in a deposit account (so long as the current account remains in credit). This offers a neat solution for those of us to whom maintaining a particular current account balance amounts to an impossible juggling trick. Better still, for anyone wanting the benefits of a chequing account witho4t some of the frills, there is the free banking offered bz many smaller banks. Books Page 228P227 CEEFAX 227 Tue 5 Jun 21:16/23 4/5 FOCUS: BANK CHARGES Bank of Scotland, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Trustee Savings Bank in Scotland, the Co-operative Bank, the National Girobank, Williams & Glyn's, and Yorkshire Bank all provide free banking to those customers in credit. None, except for National Girobank, can boast a network to match the Big Four; while njithjr National Girobank nor the Co-operative Bank has automatic tills. When overdrawn, the formjt charges only for cash withdrawals. On top of this, there is the convenience of paying in bills, cheques and so on free bz post. Books Page 228P227 CEEFAX 227 Tue 5 Jun 21:14/19 5/5 FOCUS: BANK CHARGES Min Not Chq S/0 ACW D/D * Bank Scot nil 2\% 28p 25p 15p 15p 30p Barclays 100 3% 28p 28p 28p 15p £1 Co-op nil --- 30p 30p --- 30p £1\ Lloyds 100 2}% 30p 30p 20p 20p £1 Midland 100 2* 28p 28p 15p 15p £1 Nat Giro nil --- 30p 30p --- 30p --- NatWjst 100÷ 3% 29p 29p 12p 12p £2 RoyalBank nil 3% 28p 28p 14p 14p £1 TUB E&W 100 --- 15p 15p 10p 10p 60p TUB MIre 100 --- 10p 10p nil 10p 50p TUB Scot nil --- 20p 20p 20p 20p 50p W&Glyn's nil 3% 28p 28p 14p 14p £1 Yorkshire nil 2{% 28p 28p 28p 28p £1 Key Min: minimum balance/Not: notional interest/ACW: automatic cash withdrawal * = charges waived ÷ = £500 in dip aOc