Nationwide

House prices fell in April, putting a dampener on homeowners' hopes that the slump in values may have ended.

UK building societies have insisted they are still a safe haven for savers, despite a raft of major mutuals having their financial strength called into question this week.

There are some glimmers of hope for those with smaller deposits looking for a mortgage.

Nationwide Building Society has today bought the savings arm of the troubled Dunfermline BS.