The banking arm of the Co-operative Group will today offer everyday-banking services from an additional 250 high street branches as it completes the integration of Britannia Building Society.

Britain's Lloyds Banking Group has received only two bids for the 632 branches it has put up for sale, which could force it to demerge them instead, it was reported today.

TWENTY-FOUR hours, 365 days a year, trucks the size of three-storey houses roll across an Arctic wasteland, scooping up a sticky sand that has become the holy grail of global oil companies and multinational investors.

The Co-op’s banking business said its balance sheet remained strong today, despite a £31.8m (€40.37m) investment write-off.

The insurance arm of England's Co-op is to axe 2,000 jobs under plans to modernise the service, it was announced today.