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What next for Icelandic bank savers?
By Rebecca Atkinson
It has been the year of the Icelandic bank in 2008. Following Kaupthing Bank launching a savings business - Kaupthing Edge - in the spring, the best-buy saving tables have been dominated by Icelandic-owned players. Icesave and Heritable Bank, both owned by Landsbanki, consistently offered some of the top online and ISA deals, while Kaputhing Edge has consistently kept its competitive edge.
All that changed in October. The banking crisis rocking the entire global economy hit Icelandic banks especially hard.
Over the first weekend of the month, Iceland's Government was forced to come up with a financial package to support the banking sector. Geir Haarde, Iceland's Prime Minister, said Icelandic banks had grown too big and needed to cut back on their overseas operations.
The announcement sent Icelandic banks' share price into freefall, prompting the Government to suspend all share trading on financial firms.
Icesave, Heritable and Kaupthing customers in the UK were naturally worried. But that turned to panic when, on 7 October, the Icelandic Government nationalised Landsbanki and Icesave froze all transfers in and out of its accounts.
Press attention and concern eventually prompted the British Government into action. It reassured all UK savers that although only balances of £50,000 and under would be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), anyone with balances over this amount would receive full redress from the Treasury.
Events then moved on further; following the Icelandic Government putting Landsbanki into administration, Icesave, Heritable Bank and Kaupthing Edge have been closed.
So, what does this mean for their saving customers?
Icesave
The closure of Icesave will be the first time the FSCS has been tested. The good news is that savers will receive 100% of their money back, even if their balances exceeded the £50,000 compensation limit.
How long it will take remains to be seen. The FSCS says it is working closely with the Treasury and the Financial Services Authority to take the 'necessary steps" to pay people back their money.
Loretta Minghella, chief executive of the FSCS, says: 'We know that many savers with Icesave are anxious about their savings. People can be confident they will be repaid in full.
"We are working closely with all concerned on the practical arrangements to get people their money back as quickly as possible."
Heritable Bank
In addition, the majority of its savings business has now been transferred to ING Direct, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dutch bank ING Group. ING intends to operate these accounts from its UK branch. Just to reassure savers that their money is safe, the British Treasury has guaranteed 100% of their money.
Although most savers will be transferred to ING, around 100 account will not - meaning customers will have to claim compensation. The first £50,000 of any money will be paid out through the FSCS, with the remainder covered by the Treasury.
The FSCS will send these people an application form to claim compensation early next week. Further detail can be found on the FSCS website or by phoning 0207 892 7300.
As well as saving accounts, Heritable also offered residential, buy-to-let and commercial mortgages.
The impact on existing borrowers is minimal. Your mortgage agreement will remain in place despite the administration order, and at the moment Heritable has no plans to change repayment profiles. This means that you will not be forced to refinance elsewhere.
As a mortgage borrower the worst thing you could do is stop making payments on your loan - remember, your house is at risk if you don't meet your repayments in full and on time each month.
For wholesale customers - including local authorities - the news is less bright. Heritable has frozen all wholesale deposits and no withdrawals will be accepted.
Now that the company has been placed in administration, all holders of wholesale deposits will have to lodge non-preferential claims. This will be held on file and dealt with in accordance with the Insolvency Act 1986.
Heritable's administrator, Ernst & Young, says it will review all claims made against Heritable 'in due course".
Kaupthing Edge
Like Heritable savers, most customers of the savings bank will be transferred to ING.
However, around 3,000 depositors with non-internet accounts have not been transferred. These people will be contacted by the FSCS with information about how they can claim their money back.
Again 100% of all deposits is protected, with the FSCS paying out the first £50,000 and the Treasury covering any outstanding balances.
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