https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/rss/knowledgebankKnowledgeBanken{63A0324E-94C6-4C61-A152-CD61DEDE94F6}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-the-financial-services-compensation-schemeSafeguarding your money when financial firms failWed, 02 Apr 2025 12:40:00 +0100{B5CDB6B2-7966-41A2-8328-AB67E508ACED}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-much-do-we-spend-at-christmasAn average household in the UK spends more than £700 extra in December than in other monthsMon, 09 Dec 2024 12:00:00 Z{FD5504FE-6A1B-4B95-9A71-DD310E2C89F0}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-are-stablecoins-and-how-do-they-workDigital assets that are more reliable than cryptocurrencies because their value is linked to other, stable onesMon, 06 Nov 2023 00:00:00 Z{1D245B8E-FB86-4100-A784-CDD27CCC8C0B}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-do-higher-interest-rates-help-to-lower-inflationInterest rates and inflation are closely linked. Higher rates will help to bring down inflation. But how exactly?Thu, 11 May 2023 16:02:00 +0100{B4C5C14C-4863-41F5-97F8-D238563E7E29}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-happened-to-silicon-valley-bank-ukIt is our job to make sure a failing bank does not cause widespread economic harm or cost taxpayers moneyFri, 24 Mar 2023 10:05:00 Z{E77546A7-2218-4001-AAC6-CFA015D5A6B9}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-the-digital-poundThe digital pound would be a new type of money issued by the Bank of England alongside cash.Tue, 07 Feb 2023 09:55:00 Z{C92E1103-0430-46ED-B475-852CD4277061}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainersWant to learn more about money and the economy? Explore our bank of short explainersTue, 07 Feb 2023 00:00:00 Z{EBB7363A-4CEC-4690-81E2-A64DB7BD6133}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-a-central-bank-digital-currencyCBDC stands for central bank digital currency. It’s digital money a country’s central bank can issue alongside cash. If we introduced one, we’d call it the digital pound.Thu, 28 Apr 2022 12:49:00 +0100{5772324D-D74A-4936-9CB4-7FF7DC97F1A8}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-is-the-bank-of-england-responding-to-climate-changeWe help the UK to manage the risks that climate change brings and we support its move to net-zero. Mon, 14 Feb 2022 15:32:00 Z{954A7423-1854-40DA-8F42-03B331C4192C}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/current-interest-rateWar in the Middle East has affected energy prices and means inflation will be higher than expectedFri, 17 Dec 2021 14:00:00 Z{F0BDCF69-2E2B-4C5A-8527-FE7F7C83C9EB}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/inflation-and-interest-ratesFind out how changing prices can affect borrowing and savingTue, 14 Dec 2021 16:37:13 Z{CFCA87DE-947B-4E2C-9344-56487C918BB8}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-inflationInflation is when prices rise and how quickly they do so is called the rate of inflation.Fri, 10 Dec 2021 12:07:27 Z{50D98437-61DC-46B3-A18C-129FD3C14947}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-islamic-financeMoney management and business dealings that are compatible with IslamMon, 21 Sep 2020 12:00:00 +0100{839AA8A2-7CD5-46D4-81B3-078EFFD4D8EB}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-have-we-been-doing-to-support-the-economy-during-the-covid-19-crisisThe Covid (coronavirus) pandemic shook the UK’s economy. We’ve been helping to keep it stable by supporting businesses and jobs.Thu, 06 Aug 2020 17:16:00 +0100{3EE9E011-C087-421B-911E-F8D4A8589E50}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/who-pays-for-the-bank-of-englandAlthough we’re a public body, each year we give around £350 million back to the public through HM Treasury.Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:56:00 Z{66A41FE9-7FE0-41C1-B82C-251B5F2CE64A}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-the-economyAn economy is a system for distributing limited resources… confused? Keep readingWed, 07 Aug 2019 11:57:14 +0100{E9C87D22-3B15-4C2B-9245-E9DC5A0A4D7B}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-capitalThe financial resources a bank has that act as a cushion against unexpected lossesFri, 14 Jun 2019 14:27:44 +0100{FC1B465D-64FD-4AF3-8850-F938344342E4}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/will-a-robot-takeover-my-jobWhat will the future of work mean for you?Fri, 15 Feb 2019 16:28:00 Z{77955C3A-95C7-40BC-967C-DB2DF823CBBE}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-has-money-changed-over-timeHow we pay for things, and even the concept of paying, have developed over 11,000 years.Wed, 19 Dec 2018 00:00:00 Z{27ABB160-424B-47DF-BAD9-A09D29EECC58}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-debtLearn more about debt and see how yours compares to the rest of the UKMon, 26 Nov 2018 16:27:02 Z{DB131BB5-B7A5-4C35-AFFA-C25F5AD7C2CC}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-the-prudential-regulation-authority-praThe PRA supervises about 1,300 financial institutions, including banks and insurance companiesWed, 10 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100{D665BBDB-FFD6-471E-B49F-7A2805D874BF}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-are-cryptocurrenciesA way of storing value electronically outside of centralised systems and away from regulators.Wed, 03 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0100{16287277-C6DB-451D-9320-ED91BFFF7C0B}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-much-is-a-banknote-worthWhile rare serial numbers often generate interest, banknotes will only ever be worth their face value to us.Thu, 27 Sep 2018 00:00:00 +0100{56D18873-CD0A-48F3-9E0E-E9CC66F4E665}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-financial-stabilityA stable financial system is one that can provide essential services to households and businesses in good times and bad.Fri, 06 Jul 2018 00:00:00 +0100{9A58E634-2973-4B8A-80A8-80B53CC2368E}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/is-my-money-safe-from-cyber-attacksCyber-attacks are becoming more frequent and advanced. Here's what you need to know.Mon, 25 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100{16F2E16E-DCB9-4A61-83B7-D0083A12CA9D}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-does-insurance-coverInsurance provides protection against financial loss for people and companies.Wed, 13 Jun 2018 00:00:00 +0100{62CA3A1D-E3B1-4ABD-AACE-5582B2E608DD}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-do-card-payments-workWhether you’re buying groceries or a laptop, paying by card only takes seconds. Here’s how the money gets from A to B.Fri, 25 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100{D0A251F9-AC1D-433C-84E5-406F1AC0AC0A}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-are-interest-ratesInterest is the cost of borrowing money or the reward for savingTue, 08 May 2018 00:00:00 +0100{4D12D8BB-89C4-4F43-9C96-175756CDAB2C}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-is-money-createdMost of the money in the economy is created by banks when they provide loans.Fri, 23 Mar 2018 00:00:00 Z{2D7C154C-4E9C-4BC3-BD5F-8C95DE8EE4B0}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-deflationFalling prices are not always cause for celebration.Wed, 07 Mar 2018 00:00:00 Z{025F0ED8-79F9-49EA-949C-4CB8F8961402}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/financial-market-infrastructures-what-happens-when-you-payThere’s a network of systems that make payments possible. These are known as financial market infrastructures – or FMIs for short.Tue, 20 Feb 2018 00:00:00 Z{2E9D171A-BC5F-4EF9-91C1-C087AA767F4C}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-are-football-players-paid-so-muchThe short answer is: supply and demand. Wed, 14 Feb 2018 00:00:00 Z{CC7ED2CB-BF73-4CC8-809A-71E63FCCDAEE}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-is-competition-important-for-banksWe aim to keep banks safe, but of a bit of healthy competition can be a good thing for consumers.Wed, 31 Jan 2018 00:00:00 Z{5D83F5ED-3F31-4885-8437-366EC0B5EC4C}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-risks-do-banks-takeThe three largest risks banks take are credit risk, market risk and operational risk.Thu, 18 Jan 2018 00:00:00 Z{0B6F095D-0084-4435-B315-931ECE0218A9}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-do-we-regulate-banksWe want to keep the financial system stable and individual firms safeWed, 03 Jan 2018 00:00:00 Z{0CFC512E-A09D-4D8F-A02C-D3D2B68117FC}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-do-we-know-how-much-money-to-printWe mostly print money to replace old, worn-out banknotes. But it’s also up to demand. Tue, 19 Dec 2017 00:00:00 Z{FB22C9A9-8277-418D-9560-BC8ED1A68F6A}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/whats-the-bank-of-englands-role-in-the-housing-marketIf we look at how much British households borrow, more than seven out of ten pounds are for mortgages.Fri, 08 Dec 2017 00:00:00 Z{EEF57C15-CC32-417F-99C5-199F6FE20C85}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-does-the-housing-market-affect-the-economyHouse prices affect how much money people spend. They have tripled since the late 1970s.Mon, 04 Dec 2017 00:00:00 Z{C09759D1-35AB-4090-B452-BA15E1E25EDC}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-are-new-banknotes-made-of-polymerOur new banknotes are made of polymer because it is cleaner, safer and stronger than paper.Wed, 22 Nov 2017 00:00:00 Z{DA587AD6-E598-4BFE-B739-A1AEAA26DB17}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/the-bank-of-england-in-literatureWe make an appearance in literature as a setting, an institution and even a character in itself.Fri, 17 Nov 2017 00:00:00 Z{D4285A2F-03EF-469C-BC1C-371C7E920165}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/climate-change-what-are-the-risks-to-financial-stabilityClimate change poses risks for the stability of the financial system, particularly for the insurance and banking sectors.Wed, 15 Nov 2017 00:00:00 Z{43F12C6C-5C9B-4CDE-BCF0-4B78F4C91099}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/what-is-moneyFeathers, shells and even teeth … money has taken many forms over timeWed, 08 Nov 2017 00:00:00 Z{C22F9EAE-85DC-4A1E-9A10-23C6F1271D87}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-fast-can-the-economy-growWhile we often think of economic growth as good news, it can also happen too rapidlyMon, 06 Nov 2017 00:00:00 Z{68CFF365-26D2-4F62-80A3-C7FBB0225B0D}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/is-the-global-financial-system-any-safer-than-beforeThere is more work to be done, but the global financial system is safe, simpler and fairer today than it was a decade ago.Fri, 08 Sep 2017 00:00:00 +0100{AF32E732-4FAE-4F48-B173-719616192C53}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-is-your-mortgage-rate-higher-than-bank-rateThe interest rate on your mortgage is usually much higher than Bank Rate.Wed, 05 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0100{F1951ADB-DBB3-48CC-8536-B353FBA2D478}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-is-the-bank-of-england-independent-of-the-governmentWe have specific legal responsibilities for setting policy – for interest rates, for financial stability, and for the regulation of banks and insurance companies.Fri, 23 Jun 2017 00:00:00 +0100{27D6E461-F2EF-47D8-A2F2-CAED98BDB4C3}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-does-money-depend-on-trustIn the past you could exchange banknotes for gold. Today the value of money comes from trust.Fri, 26 May 2017 00:00:00 +0100{8CC16638-C12B-4492-BCAF-15B6E88B3AA2}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/how-will-driverless-cars-affect-the-economyUK drivers spend 127 hours stuck in traffic each year.Thu, 18 May 2017 00:00:00 +0100{615EF680-E05A-457E-829A-41C68C0038FA}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/who-owns-the-bank-of-englandSome people think the Bank of England is owned by private families, the Royal Family, or even run as a private corporation… but this is untrue. So who are we owned by?Wed, 19 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0100{6B704D8E-B0F2-4C1C-8B5F-D1D6E5A23AD0}https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/explainers/why-are-retail-banks-being-ring-fenced-and-how-will-this-affect-meLarge banks in the UK have separated some of their services from other parts of their business to help make the financial system saferWed, 05 Apr 2017 00:00:00 +0100