Divorce more likely than switching banks
(04 July 2007)

Britons are more likely to split from their spouse than they are to part company with their bank, according to a new survey.

Research by online bank smile found that the celebrity break-up trend could be influencing splits in the non-celebrity world as UK residents take their lead from the likes of Britney and Kevin, Chantelle and Preston and Heather and Sir Paul.

According to smile's research, 155,000 couples divorced in 2005, but just one per cent of married people changed their current account provider.

"Many people believe that switching their bank account is both pointless and time consuming but they couldn't be more wrong," commented David Newman, marketing director at smile.

He added: "Whilst it may be difficult for a bank to directly reduce divorce rates in the UK, internet banking... provides account holders more time to spend on the important things in life such as each other."