General Electric to net online bank

 

General Electric is thought to be setting up the UK's first new online bank since the start of the credit crisis.

A person using a computer

GE Capital, the american conglomerate's financial arm, is looking to take on the High Street banks with a range of savings accounts.

It recently set up an internet bank in Germany and is believed to be examining opportunities in a number of other european countries as part of moves to diversify its funding base with customer deposits.

The online banking sector, which launched a decade ago with brand names such as Egg, Cahoot and Smile, came under the spotlight when Icelandic bank Icesave collapsed.