Scots telebank

THE bank of Scotland is launching a 24-hour, seven-day- a-week telebanking service, with Freefone and Freepost for all customer transactions and queries, writes Fiona Bawdon.

Banking Direct's Freefone number could save the average customer up to pounds 40 a year when compared with the costs of other telebanking services, according to Frank Porter, Bank of Scotland's assistant general manager.

When the cost of postage is taken into account, savings may be even greater, he says. New customers of Banking Direct are automatically given both a cheque account and an investment account, paying interest of up to 5.75 per cent gross.

Customers can switch their money between the two accounts free, and there are no transaction charges when the account is in credit - or if it is within the free automatic pounds 250 overdraft limit.

Overdrafts of more than pounds 250 are charged at 9.9 per cent APR.