Which? slams banks for sub-standard investment advice

clock •

Banks and building societies are continuing to provide inappropriate investment advice to the very consumers who bailed them out last year, a Which? investigation concludes.

An undercover probe found just four of 37 branches visited gave appropriate advice about investing a lump sum. The remaining 33 recommended inappropriate products without explaining the risks. A total of 21 of the firms investigated gave "blatantly inaccurate" advice such as referring to capital guaranteed products as entailing "no risk". Six tied advisers who suggested an investment bond also failed to properly explain the risks of the product. Only one adviser suggested splitting savings between two institutions to avoid going over the £50,000 savers protection limit, while 14 a...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

True Potential Wealth Management CEO calls for 'clear set of decisions' in upcoming Budget

True Potential Wealth Management CEO calls for 'clear set of decisions' in upcoming Budget

Short-term policy decisions ‘disturb’ advice landscape

Sophia Panayi
clock 20 October 2026 • 2 min read
PFS Festival of Financial Planning to focus on member stories and Next Gen

PFS Festival of Financial Planning to focus on member stories and Next Gen

PFS approaching festival in a ‘more young and vibrant way’

Sophia Panayi
clock 19 October 2026 • 3 min read
One in four UK adults would invest up to £50,000 without professional advice

One in four UK adults would invest up to £50,000 without professional advice

Research from Mattioli Woods

Sophia Panayi
clock 19 October 2026 • 2 min read