National Savings and Investments
 


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Press release

NS&I AND TESCO PERSONAL FINANCE AIM TO HELP BUSY SAVERS

01 March 2006

Partnership extended to over 700 stores nationwide today

Following a successful pilot, National Savings and Investments (NS&I) and Tesco Personal Finance have extended their partnership to over 700 stores from today.

The partnership, which seeks to make it easier to save with NS&I, will allow Tesco customers to pick up brochures for NS&I’s tax-free Premium Bonds and its range of Inflation-beating Index-linked Savings Certificates alongside their weekly shop.

With a customer base of 26 million people and £72 billion invested, NS&I has sought new ways of reaching out to an even wider audience by signing up new partners to market its products. Tesco Personal Finance is the first new partnership.

Tesco customers will enjoy the same benefit of 100% security as any other NS&I customer. They will be able to apply for these two leading NS&I products by post, telephone or online via www.tesco.com.

The partnership

NS&I chose Tesco Personal Finance in September 2005 to market its products to make saving and investing with NS&I more accessible. This will be achieved through Tesco’s proven retail and financial services experience, in store-marketing opportunities and access to over 15 million customers every week.

Following a successful pilot in 50 stores over the last four months, the leaflets will now be available in over 700 stores. The stores cover the breadth of Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For customers who already have Premium Bonds or Inflation-beating Savings and a debit card at hand, an additional purchase by phone or online should take less than two minutes.

The partnership, which will be supported with co-marketing activity and in-store promotions, will run initially for five years.

Trevor Bayley, NS&I’s acting chief executive, said: “This marketing partnership will make it even more straightforward and easy for people to find out about our savings and investments products, and opens NS&I up to a wider audience.

“This is an exciting time in NS&I’s development and is especially important for giving new customers, as well as existing NS&I customers, yet another way of getting into the savings habit.”

Jim Macdonald, Tesco Personal Finance chief executive, said: "We want to help people reach their savings goals, so this is great news for our customers.  By combining the unique range of NS&I products with the accessibility and convenience of Tesco stores, we can help make saving for the future easier than ever.” 

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. NS&I, established in 1861, is a Government department and an executive agency of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

One of the largest savings organisations in the UK, it offers a range of savings products over the telephone, internet, post and by standing order as well as through a network of 14,600 Post OfficeTM branches and 700 Tesco Stores.  It has 26 million customers and £72 billion funds invested. All products offer 100% security because they are backed by HM Treasury.

2. Tesco Personal Finance is one of the UK’s fastest growing financial services businesses.  Since launched in 1997, the company has grown to five million in-force customer accounts and has launched, on average, three products each year. It has offered its own instant access savings account since September 1997. With 40% of sales now originating from the internet and 60% of business coming through the stores, many of which are open 24 hours, products are available where and when customers want them.

Media team
NS&I has a number of spokespeople available for interviews and our experienced radio team is available via our ISDN line: 020 7602 4522.

The numbers below are for media use only. Customers wishing to contact NS&I can find details here.

Gareth Headon 020 7348 9494
gareth.headon@nsandi.com
Gill Stephens 020 7348 9449
gill.stephens@nsandi.com
Iman Asante 020 7348 9301
iman.asante@nsandi.com
Monica Del-Villar 020 7348 9654
monica.del-villar@nsandi.com

ISDN for interviews

020 7602 4522

Out of hours

All numbers above diverted to staffed mobile phones
 

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