NatWest branches to offer impartial financial guidance

The MoneySense service will provide the opportunity to speak with independently trained advisers in 1,000 NatWest branches across the country. The money guidance available is not linked to sales of products and is completely impartial, according to the bank.

The Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) has been working with NatWest providing intensive training to 1,000 advisers from the bank's customer service officers who are completely service oriented. These advisers will be on hand to impart guidance to customers across the country on a wide range of money management questions, including guidance on basic budgets and budgeting skills; help with prioritising outgoings and expenses; working on savings plans; and general, impartial guidance on how financial products work.

Gordon Pell, chairman, regional markets at Royal Bank of Scotland Group said: "Bringing MoneySense in-branch through our newly-trained advisers and working with CCCS makes sense in the current climate and is a natural extension of our heritage in this area. We already have 60,000 adults per month accessing money guidance on our website and over 110,000 impartial Money Guides picked up in branch since the start of this year. During the pilots most people told us that they would look for help at their bank and with over 2 million people coming into our branches each week, this environment seems a natural fit for the MoneySense Adviser service.

"Our customers want Back-to-Basics banking, building on traditional relationships with local branches, and access to impartial advice, helping them navigate their way through the challenges of the current economic climate."