Banking services have improved; IN ASSOCIATION WITH Rensburg Sheppards SIPP PENSION PROVISION.

THE overall service provided by banks has increased since 2004, according to Knutsford-based lobby group, the Forum of Private Business.

The forum's tenth biennial report investigating banks found that "overall there was an improvement but comparing the performance of individual banks over the last three surveys showed significant dif ferences".

Allied Irish Bank retained the title of best performing business bank, despite a slip in performance from the last survey, and was joined in equal first place by Yorkshire Bank. Clydesdale Bank continued to improve, staying in third place.

The Royal Bank Of Scotland came fourth and Nat West was fifth in the league table with a much improved performance index on 2004. HSBC's place fell from fourth to sixth. Barclays was seventh, with an improved index and Lloyds TSB was eighth, also recording an improved index.

Around 3,700 firms participated in the survey which monitors indicators such as bank switching and the impact of recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading.

Whilst the combined performance of banks appears to be better, the forum also highlighted the fact firms are becoming more inclined to change banks.

Nick Goulding, chief executive of the FPB, said: "The percentag e of those businesses not considering changing bank has fallen from 63.8% in 2002, to 58.3% in 2006. This shows firms are becoming inclined to shop around for the best deal."