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National Savings & Investment (NS&I;), a state-owned savings bank in the UK, has admitted to a long-running administrative error that has resulted in nearly £500m in missing payments to bereaved families. The bank's chief executive, Dax Harkins, was forced out amid the scandal.NS&I;, which holds over £240bn for 24 million customers, has been accused of a series of errors dating back years. The bank allegedly lost track of investments and withheld premium bond prizes from the families of deceased savers. Some families had to pay lawyers to recover their money.The pensions minister, Torsten Bell, confirmed that 37,500 bereavement claims were potentially affected, with a total value of £476m. He stated that the problem had been reported to ministers in December last year and that NS&I;'s new CEO, Sir Jim Harra, would work to resolve the issue.NS&I; has apologized for the errors, stating that it had identified an issue where the estates of deceased customers were not always repaid money from all of their accounts after a bereavement claim. The bank has introduced robust measures to ensure this does not happen again.To rectify the situation, NS&I; will publish a plan in May detailing how people will be reunited with their money. The plan will confirm the number of missing payments and how the representatives of estates will be contacted. Estates may receive interest on savings as well as compensation. The government has promised that the cash is '100% safe' and that returning it will not present an additional liability to the taxpayer.

National Savings and Investments (NS&I;) is preparing to make a significant payout to customers who have been affected by a savings scandal. The bank is expected to repay hundreds of millions of pounds to approximately 37,000 people whose money was misplaced due to historical failings.The government-backed savings institution is in discussions with the Treasury to compensate these customers, with the exact amount yet to be determined. This payout would not be considered compensation but rather a reimbursement for money that customers did not receive.The scandal involves reports of bereaved families not receiving money that was rightfully theirs, as well as complaints that NS&I; failed to pay out premium bond prizes to the families of deceased savers. The bank has apologized for the poor customer service, particularly during sensitive times.The pensions minister, Torsten Bell, is expected to address the issue in a statement to the House of Commons. NS&I; holds over £100bn for around 26 million customers and is one of the largest savings organizations in the UK. The bank recently faced criticism over the spiralling cost of its modernisation programme, which has risen from £1.3bn to £3bn.A spokesperson for NS&I; said: “We recognise that dealing with bereavement can be challenging and would like to apologise to anyone who has not received the customer service from NS&I; that they should expect, particularly at such a sensitive time.”

Iga Swiatek, the world No 3 tennis player, has spoken candidly about her struggles after a difficult defeat at the Miami Open. The Polish player lost to her compatriot Magda Linette in a messy three-set affair, marking one of her most challenging losses in years. In a post-match media session, Swiatek broke down in tears, highlighting the emotional toll of her recent performances. She described her current situation as 'the worst nightmare a top tennis player can have,' struggling to cope with the pressure and weight of her achievements. Swiatek's issues on the court have been compounded by her mental state. Despite being a six-time grand slam title winner and one of the greatest players of her generation, she has been plagued by chronic overthinking, worrying, and second-guessing her decisions. The problems began in the autumn of 2024 after a positive test for the banned substance trimetazidine, which led to a month-long suspension. Although she proved the substance was in a permitted sleep medication, the incident affected her performance. Swiatek's inactivity in the final months of 2024 meant she couldn't regain her No 1 ranking, which has been held by her rival Aryna Sabalenka. In a bid to address her struggles, Swiatek has parted ways with her coach, Wim Fissette. Her partnership with sports psychologist Daria Abramowicz has been crucial in her career, but Swiatek may need to take more ownership of her decision-making to move forward. Despite her current challenges, Swiatek remains a formidable player, known for her destructive groundstrokes, heavy topspin, and supreme athleticism. Her mental toughness has been a key factor in her success, but it has also become a source of stress in recent months.