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The Sun
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Santander charging new fee for another key bank account which was always FREE
SANTANDER is slapping fees on another account, days after axing free services and angering customers. The bank is set to introduce a monthly fee for its Treasurer's Current Account, a popular choice for not-for-profit organisations like clubs, societies, and charities. 1 The account, which has always been free to use, will start charging £4.99 per month from October 1 2025. The Treasurer's Account is designed for organisations with an annual turnover of up to £250,000. A Treasurer is someone responsible for managing an organisation's finances, ensuring funds are handled appropriately, and overseeing payments and accounts. While registered charities, charities exempt from registration, and organisations with excepted charity status will escape the fee, other not-for-profits will now have to factor in this extra cost. A spokesperson for Santander said: "The banking landscape has changed significantly over the last few years. "Introducing a £4.99 fee for the Treasurer's Account enables us to focus on sustainably developing and meeting shifting customer's expectations, alongside meeting our increasing regulatory obligations. "There are no other changes to the fees on the account, with cash deposits, withdrawals and cheques remaining free of charge, and we continue to waive the monthly fee to support charities." The changes come just days after Santander angered customers by announcing a £120 annual fee for business bank accounts it had once promised would be "free forever." It means small business and self-employed account holders will face a £9.99 monthly charge starting in October. This comes despite written assurances that these accounts would always remain free of fees. Switch bank accounts for free perks The changes will impact three types of business accounts: 1|2|3 Business Current Accounts, Business Everyday Current Accounts, and Business Current Accounts. The "free forever" promise applied to accounts offered by Abbey and Alliance & Leicester before the 2008 merger with Santander. The bank first attempted to introduce fees for these accounts in 2012 but backed down after customers threatened legal action. However, these accounts were shifted to the Business Everyday account in 2015, which did not include the "free forever" promise. From October 1, these accounts will be closed, and customers will be automatically switched to Santander's new Business Current Account – Classic. Under the new structure, every Business Current Account – Classic will incur a £9.99 monthly fee, regardless of the type of account customers previously held. While some accounts were free, others offered additional benefits with charges as high as £40 per month. How do I switch bank accounts? SWITCHING bank accounts is a simple process and can usually be done through the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Dozens of high street banks and building societies are signed up - there's a full list on CASS' website. Under the switching service, swapping banks should take seven working days. You don't have to remember to move direct debits across when moving, as this is done for you. All you have to do is apply for the new account you want, and the new bank will tell your existing one you're moving. There are a few things you can do before switching though, including choosing your switch date and transferring any old bank statements to your new account. You should get in touch with your existing bank for any old statements. When switching current accounts, consider what other perks might come with joining a specific bank or building society. Some banks offer 0% overdrafts up to a certain limit, and others might offer better rates on savings accounts. And some banks offer free travel or mobile phone insurance with their current accounts - but these accounts might come with a monthly fee. What other banking changes are coming? NatWest is making changes to its business current accounts by increasing fees for cash payments, cheque transactions, and certain online transfers. From August 30, cash payments into and out of business accounts will see their fees surge from 70p per £100 to 95p per £100. Cheque payments, whether processed by hand or via mobile, will also jump from 70p to 75p per cheque. The bank is also increasing some charges related to its BACS payment system. The BACS system is a UK payment network used by businesses to make electronic bank-to-bank transfers, such as Direct Debits and Direct Credits. The fee for processing each individual payment or instruction, will soon rise from 18p to 21p. The cost to process a file containing multiple payments or instructions will also increase slightly from £5.25 to £5.35. Meanwhile, Santander is closing its 123 Lite current account, which offers up to 3% cashback on household bills for a £2 monthly fee, on August 21. Customers affected by the closure will be automatically switched to Santander's Everyday Current Account. This account has no monthly fee but does not include cashback benefits.
Associated Press
23-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
CREST introduces a staged pathway for advancement to globally-recognised CREST cybersecurity accreditation
UNITED KINGDOM, July 23, 2025 / / -- The CREST Pathway and Pathway+ options make cybersecurity accreditation accessible to all organisations that aspire to provide cyber security services at the highest levels of quality but would benefit from additional resources and guidance to reach their goal. International cybersecurity not-for-profit, CREST, has expanded its application process with the introduction of the Pathway and Pathway+ stages. Designed for organisations building toward full accreditation through the ongoing development of capability, processes, and alignment with accreditation expectations, the two stages will help companies to advance against internationally recognised standards and begin their journey to reach full CREST accreditation. The CREST Pathway welcomes an organisation into the CREST ecosystem, where participants benefit from resources to help them reach full accreditation and access to CREST communities that will help keep them abreast of new cybersecurity developments and threats. Pathway+ organisations will further benefit from a toolset that enables them to self-assess against CREST's accreditation standards to identify their areas of strength and development needs. This stage may also unlock opportunities for mentoring from CREST members and access to government funded development programmes in selected countries. Organisations begin their Pathway journey by sharing essential company details and committing to the CREST Code of Conduct. For Pathway+, they must also self-assess against organisational standards and a CREST cybersecurity service area. By expanding options to include organisations at earlier stages of development and alignment with standards, CREST advances its mission to build capacity and capability across the cybersecurity industry. It also promotes consistency, transparency, and trust in the delivery of cyber services globally. Through a structured framework, Pathway and Pathway+ organisations are supported in progressing their cybersecurity services, aiming for full CREST accreditation within two years of Pathway+ recognition and within four years for those starting at Pathway. CREST accreditation serves as a recognised trustmark for buyers of cybersecurity services, offering assurance that accredited organisations meet rigorous, independently verified standards. Full accreditation and membership involve an in-depth review of an organisation's service delivery, security practices, workforce competence, and overall governance. Engaging with a CREST-accredited provider offers confidence that services are delivered consistently, securely, and by professionals with up-to-date training and skills. This is especially valuable in disciplines such as penetration testing, threat intelligence, red teaming, security operations centres, and incident response and exercising, where alignment to CREST standards promotes consistent and repeatable services enabling meaningful year-on-year comparisons. Jonathan Armstrong, Head of Product at CREST said: 'The importance of working with a trusted and capable cybersecurity service provider cannot be overstated. With millions of pounds at risk, whether through regulatory fines, extortion, business disruption, or lost revenue, cybersecurity is simply too critical to be left to chance with inconsistent or unrecognised vendors. 'CREST provides assurance and elevates professionalism in the cybersecurity sector. Buyers can be confident when buying services from a CREST member company that they are being supported by a company which has been assessed against the most stringent standards available globally in their areas of technical competence. Pathway and Pathway+ are the latest additions to our framework, designed specifically for organisations that are committed to accreditation but may not yet meet the full criteria, or are actively working to demonstrate their readiness.' 'These programmes offer a structured pathway for progression, enabling organisations to showcase their commitment to high standards while developing the capabilities needed for full CREST accreditation. In doing so, they gain access to tools and guidance that enhance service quality, accelerate their journey toward membership, and contribute to our shared mission of building trust and strengthening the global cybersecurity ecosystem.' To learn more and begin the application process for Pathway or Pathway+, click here. Editor's notes About CREST CREST is an international, not-for-profit membership body representing the global cybersecurity industry. Since 2006, CREST has led the cybersecurity community in raising professional and organisational standards across the sector. By accrediting cybersecurity service providers and certifying individual professionals through rigorous, industry-leading examinations, CREST provides confidence to buyers, governments, and regulators alike. CREST has accredited nearly 500 member companies which operate globally, and have been independently assessed against demanding technical, process, and governance criteria. In addition to company accreditations, we certify thousands of professionals worldwide, putting them through their paces in industry-leading examinations. JENNIFER MORRIS Morris Tate Ltd +44 7866 361936 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
BBC News
13-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Reading's children's services to return to council in October
Staff working for a not-for-profit company set up by a council to run services for children will have their jobs transferred back into the authority in Futures for Children (BFfC) was set up in December 2018 by Reading Borough Council after the authority's services were rated inadequate by council voted to bring the services back under its direct control at a meeting in was created with the aim of improving services but Reading's children's services were judged to still require improvement in July 2024. When the decision was taken earlier this year to bring the company's employees back in-house, council leader Liz Terry said BFfC had made "good progress".In papers, the authority said BFfC staff will be transferred to the council on 1 council's corporate and HR policies will replace BFfC's policies, it were consulted about the move between 5 June and 7 July. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Guardian
11-07-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Australia's current childcare funding model risks failing our most precious people
When you attach profit to caring, you create a problem. We don't need yet another series of reviews and reports to tell us that when you rely on the blunt-force of the market, you will see profiteering from government subsidies, lack of quality in service delivery dressed up as 'efficiency' to maximise profits, and next to no services in areas where there's little money to be made. Australia's current funding model, the childcare subsidy (CCS), has facilitated the rapid expansion of for-profit providers, who now operate nearly 75% of all childcare services across the country. Research shows that for-profit providers typically deliver lower quality care while charging higher fees than not-for-profit services. Individual providers who are failing in their care for our most precious people should be held to account, but this is a systemic failure, and the broader fix will be a big, complicated job. Many of those who work in the early childhood education sector will tell you that they struggle to provide quality education to our children and to keep them safe amid sometimes shocking lack of oversight and adherence to existing rules. In a recent national survey of 2,000 members from the AWU, conducted before charges were laid against a worker in Victoria, one staff member from that state said 'I can't even guarantee the safety of the children and myself'. Of the educators surveyed, 77% said they were operating below minimum staffing requirements at least weekly, and 42% said it was happening daily. The early childhood educators who I have met have been hard-working, kind, mostly women, who work for low pay to do incredibly important work. Some private centres are exceeding requirements and standards. But most are not, and the system is failing not only children and families, but the staff and organisations who are doing the right thing. The ABC's Four Corners report in March revealed that one in 10 childcare centres in Australia have never been rated by regulators and pointed out that only 14% of for-profit centres meet national standards. Those standards are set by the Australian Children's Education and Care Quality Authority (ACECQA), but it has no power to enforce them across a system which is managed by states and territories. So how do we fix it? This question needs to be tackled now, especially if the government is serious about implementing a universal early childhood education and care system, which it should be. Evidence shows that children do most of their formative development under age five, and that quality early childhood education enables them to reach their full potential. That opportunity must be offered to all children in an equitable society. Quality, accessible, affordable care also enables women to work. It begins to remove the innate disadvantages for women who begin a lifelong slide into lower wages, less superannuation and higher financial risk almost as soon as they walk out of school or tertiary education. For those reading along who will now default to the simplistic just stay home with the kids position, get a grip. Single parents don't have a choice. Nor do couples who are struggling with the price of housing. This generation of parents may not have the option of one parent staying at home. Do not blame families for this. Safe, quality, accessible, affordable care for our children is essential for families, women, children and the economy. But protecting profit for private providers should not be guiding policy. What we need is better oversight and better regulation. Governments like being presented with solutions, so here are two. First, as the National children's commissioner, Anne Hollonds, says, 'National cabinet must make 'child safety and wellbeing' a key priority.' 'Currently the word 'children' is entirely missing from the list of priorities for National Cabinet.' We need a cabinet minister for Children. A minister would prioritise the litany of issues afflicting our kids, from the transformative opportunity to implement a universal early childhood education system, to youth safety and mental health, to the impact of social media and so on. Secondly, we need an Early Childhood Commission to set a national approach to regulatory standards, so that everyone is meeting them, including the for-profit providers. Earlier this year I joined The Parenthood, Goodstart Early Learning, Early Childhood Australia and Royal Far West calling for a national commission to set a national standard and weed out unscrupulous operators. It would also oversee the rolling out of a universal early childhood education system, a policy shift that could be as transformative as the introduction of Medicare for families, children and the nation. Labor has the numbers and the mandate to leave this legacy. Never waste a crisis. Zoe Daniel is a three-time ABC foreign correspondent and former independent member for Goldstein
CTV News
07-07-2025
- Health
- CTV News
This not-for-profit initiative aims to rehabilitate & reset you & your home
This not-for-profit initiative aims to rehabilitate & reset you & your home The healthy home, healthy mind initiative program is designed to educate & empower you to take back control of your mental health, your environment & your life.
