Finance with a conscience gaining esteem

So-called green financial products are more popular now than ever, according to the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).

It states that there is heightened awareness of environmental ethics and it is now a part of the public consciousness.

As a result an increasing number of companies offer ethically sound products, so it is then up to the consumer to research the available options to separate genuinely green offers from the simple marketing ploys.

A spokesperson for the ETA said: “At the moment it is up to the consumer to check this out but in the future it will be up to the companies to prove that they are truly green as consumers become more knowledgeable.”

He added that, over the past decade being ethically-minded and green has become “fashionable”, so much so that it has climbed up the “political agenda”.

Major corporations are starting to appreciate the value of addressing these types of issues with banking giant Citigroup putting $50 billion (£24.4 billion) towards green projects earlier this year.

Tags: Ethics, decade, ETA SA, political agenda, political agenda".Major corporations, available options, green, spain

HSBC offers new 5-year mortgage

A new 5.55 per cent, five-year fixed rate mortgage plan has been launched by HSBC.

Following the base interest rate rise to 5.25 per cent last week, the package replaces HSBC’s Green Sale mortgage with a fixed rate of 5.17 per cent, which has sold out.

The new plan offers the incentive of no booking or exit fees, with interest charged daily.

Rob Chesters, head of mortgages at HSBC, said: “Following the recent increase in interest rates, we are pleased to be able to announce immediately our new five-year fixed rate mortgage, which comes with a very competitive rate and no booking fee.

“Our Green Sale mortgage proved to be very popular with the many homeowners spring cleaning their finances this January, selling-out in the first two weeks of the sale.”

The fixed rate reverts to 6.25 per cent variable once the five-year fixed rate period has expired.

HSBC serves 15.6 million customers in the UK and over 125 million customers worldwide.

Tags: rate, green, rate rise, uk, cent, rise, United Kingdom, Green Sale mortgage