Barclays and NatWest customers told new change ‘starts on Friday’

Dariusz Karpowicz, director of Doncaster-based Albion Financial Advice, said summer was a "buying season". He added: "Welcome news for once. Swaps are easing, base rate fears for 2026 are fading, and the high street has finally taken the hint. Barclays, NatWest and Coventry are all trimming rates, and the timing could not be better with summer and the buying season nearly here. "A word of caution, though. Cheaper rates have a habit of vanishing as fast as they appear, so do not sit on your hands. If you are buying or coming to the end of a deal, get your numbers reviewed now and lock something in while the mood is good. Optimism is lovely, but a secured rate is better."