Britain has fewer bank branches per customer than almost any other leading nation, an investigation reveals.

Investment banks have been told bonuses must comply with the regulatory guidelines - or they face having their licences to operate in Britain revoked.

Providers offering process short cuts and adviser incentives may be driving competition, but this will not build a strong distribution model in the long-term, Aegon's Alun Beynon says.

New business opportunities will arise for advisers as higher unemployment historically follows an economic recovery, IN Partnership's Kevin McDonagh says.

Global reinsurance giant Munich Re posted a seven-fold rise in net profits for Q4, helped by reviving financial markets.

Retirement planning remained the UK's top financial concern last year and the main reason people sought independent financial advice, according to research by Unbiased.com.

RBS bankers will receive their bonuses entirely in shares - but can convert a large portion into cash within 12 weeks.

The FSA has censured a London-based stockbroking firm for repeated failures by its appointed representative where customers were forced to buy shares they did not want.

The ISA season has opened with a strong drive to global and UK equities, according to figures from Skandia.

Goldman Sachs could pay its chief executive a bonus of up to $100m in defiance of moves by President Obama to take action against bloated bank benefits.