A CHALLENGE TO TRADITIONAL BANKING
Traditional methods of banking are under threat from a new type of account which is actually meant to be almost perpetually in debit. This account, to be (21) in a few months’ time, is in- tended to (22) a range of personal banking services, such as current sc. counts, mortgages, per- sop, al loans and credit cards. Customers, who must (23) that they are at least five years from retirement, will be required to (24) a mortgage of at least ￡ 50,000 on their homes and have their salaries paid directly into the account. They will then have an agreed credit (25) of up to three times their annual salary, to use as they wish-as well as the usual (26) such as debit, credit and cash cards and a cheque book. Accounts in debit will be charged interest at a rate of 8.2 per cent. This (27) favourably with the standard mortgage rate of 8.45 per cent, personal loan rates of around 13 per cent and credit card (28) of about 22 per cent. When the debt is cleared- as it must be by the time the customer retires-and the account goes into credit, it will attract interest at about 5 Her cent. Some experts say that it will revolutionise personal banking in the UK. But the (29) has been dismissed as a gimmick by rival banks and criticized by consumer groups, which are voicing fears that many customers on average incomes could be (30) into serious debt.

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