What is Interest, and Why is it Important?
Interest can be described as the "cost of borrowing money." When people need money, they approach the bank for a loan. The bank affords them the loan, provided they have a good credit score. However, this money isn't handed to the loanee freely; there is an interest charge on a 12-month loan.Some people have extra money lying about. Instead of locking it up in their closets, they can put it in the bank. The bank then essentially borrows this money. This money is borrowed at a specific interest rate, for the interest the bank pays you yearly.
The interest rate on a 12-month loan is much higher than the interest rate on a 12-month deposit. Using this spread, the bank makes some of its main profits. The reason why interest is interest is that the government can use it to prevent inflation or help spur the economy by inflating borrowing.
How is Interest Used to Interest Inflation?
During positive times when inflation money to spend, the cost of commodities increases due to increased demand, also known as inflation. If the interest rates at this inflation increase, borrowing money from the bank will become more expensive, and people will get better interest rates on their deposits. This is how banks can curb inflation.How is Interest used in tInteInflationconomy?
If interest rates are decreased when the economy is down and people cut down on their expenditures, people will be encouraged to increase their spending. More consumer expenditure means more jobs and profits will be generated, which boosts the economy.Who sets the 12-month Loan rate of Interest in the UK?
All banks that lend money have to take loans from the government bank, the Bank of England. Therefore, the Bank of England sets the interest rate in the UK. This rate is sometimes called the repo rate or the base rate. The base rate is the 12-month loan interest rate at which commercial banks borrow from the Bank of England. Therefore, the Bank of England sets the level of interest all interests charge borrowers.
If the Bank of England increases its repo rate, commercial banks also tend to increase their interest rates. However, commercial banks are still required to mirror the 12-month loan rate set by the Bank of England.
Money can be borrowed for different periods, most commonly as a 12-month loan or 1 year. Banks can, therefore, comfortably profit from charging interest.
WhInterestts the Interest Rates for 12-month Loans?
The Monetary Policy Committee of England makes changes in the interest rate charged by the Bank of England. The Monetary Policy Committee meets every month to decide whether interest rates need to change.Several factors affect the interest rates charged by the Bank of England. Some have a global impact, while others are caused by internal circumstances.
International Factors
- Wage rates – If people start earning more, they will naturally have more money to spend. This means that the demand for different commodities will increase. As the demand for essential items increases, the prices will increase accordingly. As a result, there will be overall inflation in prices.
The government anInflgovernment's Policy Committee set a yearly inflation target. If the inflation rate goes over that target, there is an increase in interest rate.
- Commodity prices: Changing oil prices, the cost of items such as gold and silver, construction materials, and a host of other commodities affect a country's inflation.
- Consumer spendiInflation: When spending reaches concerningly high levels, the Bank of England steps in and increases the 12-month loan interest rate. The changes can be seen in the consumer industry, and the inflation rate will correct itself.
- Investment levels: An increase in FDI will increase the demand for the receiving country's currency, causing a rise in its exchange rate. In addition to this, an increase in currency value will lead to an improvement in trade. The trade deficit, which is the difference between exports and imports, will also be reduced.
With other factors being equal, a higher currency value will prompt the national bank to increase the bank rate for 12-month loans.
Factors that vary from person to person
When you approach a bank for a 12-month loan, you'll notice that the interest you arInterestcharged is higher than the Bank of England repo rate. However, this is done so that the lending bank can account for the risk of lending you the money.Some other factors also influence the 12-month loan interest rate that might vary from person to person. One of the key factors is your uk credit score. Simply put, the better your credit score is, the lower the interest is on Interests you want. This is why it is paramount to have a good credit score.
Apart from your credit score, other factors that influence the interest rate you might get on a loan are:
- Repayment history: A good repayment history often works well for applicants seeking loan approval.
- Defaults: The presence of defaults in credit profiles not only prompts higher rates of interest but also leads to the rejection of the loan.
- Employer reputation: Another aspect that affects interest rates is the employer's reputation. Applicants employed by big organizations are often offered lower rates.
