WELSH homeowners are being urged to check whether they qualify for government-backed support for solar panels and other energy-saving improvements as energy bills prepare to rise again.

Energy regulator Ofgem has confirmed that the price cap will rise by 13% from July 1, adding about £221 a year to the bill of a typical dual-fuel household paying by direct debit.

The increase means the average annual bill will rise from £1,641 to £1,862, although the actual amount paid will depend on how much energy a household uses.

Support already available

In Wales, homeowners can access help through schemes including Green Homes Wales and Nest Warm Homes.

Green Homes Wales, a Welsh Government scheme managed by the Development Bank of Wales, offers interest-free finance and funded expert support to help eligible owner-occupiers improve the energy efficiency of their homes.

More than £5m in additional funding has been confirmed for the scheme for 2026–27, following strong demand.

The support is not limited only to the lowest-income households, making it available to a broader group of homeowners considering improvements such as solar panels, insulation, heat pumps and battery storage.

England scheme still developing

Similar support in England is expected under the UK Government’s Warm Homes Plan, which includes proposals for low-interest and zero-interest loans for measures such as solar panels, batteries, heat pumps, smart controls and insulation.

However, that wider loan support has not yet been rolled out in the same way as the existing Welsh scheme.

Ian Mach, director of Swansea-based Ulex Energy, said: “With energy bills rising again, now is a good time for homeowners to consider whether solar could work for them.

“Many people are unaware that funding is available beyond lower-income households, particularly through schemes such as Green Homes Wales. Meanwhile, equivalent proposals in England have yet to be launched.”

VAT relief deadline

Homeowners can also currently benefit from 0% VAT on qualifying energy-saving installations, including solar panels and battery storage.

That relief is due to remain in place until March 31, 2027, after which the rate is expected to return to 5%.

Ulex Energy, based in Swansea, provides solar and battery storage systems across South Wales and was recently named a finalist in the Wales Energy Efficiency Awards 2026.

Bank promises investment in face-to-face banking as Pembrokeshire communities reflect on years of lost local branches

NATWEST has pledged not to announce any further branch closures across Wales until at least 2029, bringing to an end years of banking shutdowns that have dramatically reshaped access to face-to-face services in communities across Pembrokeshire and beyond.

The banking giant confirmed on Friday (June 5) that it will make no further closure announcements in Wales or the rest of the UK for at least three years, while investing £50 million into modernising and upgrading its branch network over the next 18 months.

The announcement comes after widespread criticism over the loss of local banking services, particularly in rural communities where residents and businesses have struggled with reduced access to cash and in-person support.

NatWest said the move marks the conclusion of its current programme of branch changes, although two final Welsh branches — Llanelli and Port Talbot — are still set to close in September.

The bank said counter transactions had fallen by 53 per cent in Port Talbot and 74 per cent in Llanelli between January 2020 and January 2026, although that period included Covid restrictions and changes to customer behaviour during and after the pandemic.

A changing banking landscape

NatWest says 95 per cent of customers now use digital services for day-to-day banking, but insisted face-to-face support remains vital for important life events and more complex financial matters.

The bank said investment over the next two years will include branch refurbishments, relocations and potential new branches where customer demand justifies it.

The bank also plans to expand its mobile branch network across Wales, increasing community stops and access to in-person services in areas no longer served by permanent branches.

NatWest says its Welsh mobile banking service currently covers around 2,550 miles every week and is expected to serve approximately 18,000 customers during 2026.

Solange Chamberlain, Chief Executive of Retail Banking at NatWest Group, said: “This is an important moment for our customers and the communities we serve.

“We are investing to offer customers a seamless mix of ways to bank with us including over the phone, digitally, or via our free-to-use ATM network — while continuing to support those who prefer face-to-face banking in branches and community banking hubs.”

Pembrokeshire branch closures

Pembrokeshire has already experienced a major reduction in NatWest’s branch network.

In 2018, NatWest closed branches in Pembroke, Cardigan, Milford Haven and Narberth, leaving Haverfordwest as the county’s only remaining branch.

The closures took place over a six-week period, with Pembroke shutting on May 21, Cardigan on May 30, Milford Haven on June 21 and Narberth on June 28.

At the time, concerns were raised by residents, business owners and campaigners who warned that elderly customers, those without reliable internet access and rural communities would be disproportionately affected.

Cash-handling businesses also expressed concern about longer travel distances for deposits and banking services.

NatWest defended the closures by pointing to changing customer habits and growing use of online and mobile banking.

The Haverfordwest branch has since remained open and was recently refurbished as part of NatWest’s investment programme in Wales.

Face-to-face banking still valued

Despite the shift toward digital banking, banking campaigners have long argued that branches remain essential in market towns and rural communities such as those found across west Wales.

The Herald understands concerns about access to banking services remain particularly strong in Pembrokeshire, where public transport links can make travelling to larger towns difficult for older residents.

NatWest said customers affected by the remaining Welsh closures will continue to have access to services through Post Offices, banking hubs and nearby branches.

The bank said it would continue to invest in financial support programmes, including financial health checks, school visits and workplace education designed to improve confidence in money management.

For many in Pembrokeshire, however, the pledge may be viewed less as expansion and more as a long-awaited pause after years of retreat from the high street.

INSURANCE customers are borrowing more than £500 a year on average to cover the cost of their premiums, new research has found.

Premium Credit’s latest Insurance Index shows the average amount borrowed by customers using credit to pay for insurance has risen by 26% in a year, from £400 to £505.

The figure is also sharply higher than two years ago, when the average amount borrowed was £302.

Cost-of-living pressure

The research found that 76% of adults now use some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies.

More than half of those who borrowed more, 53%, said the rising cost of living was the main reason, while 26% blamed increases in insurance premiums.

However, nearly a quarter, 23%, said they had taken on more credit because monthly payments were more convenient and helped them manage their money.

Credit card use rises

Credit cards remain the most common form of borrowing used to pay insurance bills, with 55% of customers relying on them, compared with 41% last year.

Premium Credit said this could be risky because of the potentially high cost of unsecured borrowing.

The index found that 11% of those who used credit to pay for one or more insurance policies had defaulted on repayments in the past year, almost double the 6% recorded last year.

Around one in eight people questioned said they had been turned down for a credit card in the past two years.

Car and home cover

The research found credit was most commonly used to pay for car and home insurance, with 56% of adults using credit to pay each of those policies monthly.

Credit was also used to pay for life insurance by 33% of adults, pet insurance by 28%, travel insurance by 28%, health insurance by 23%, and critical illness cover by 12%.

Premium Credit said customers should consider premium finance as an alternative to credit cards or overdrafts, allowing annual policies to be paid monthly for a charge.

Mona Patel, consumer spokesperson at Premium Credit said: “Insurance customers are borrowing more to cover their insurance payments due to cost-of-living pressures rather than insurance premium increases.

“However, it is notable that substantial numbers who are borrowing more are doing so because paying for insurance monthly is more convenient and better for their general budgeting in line with how they pay for other products and services.

“Premium finance is specifically designed to help smooth out the impact of a single lump sum and improve cash flow.

“Spreading the cost of an annual policy into more convenient monthly payments works for many millions of UK consumers and businesses and it can be a good alternative to other forms of credit like credit cards or bank overdrafts.”

Financial outlook

The research also found that nearly a third of adults, 32%, expect their financial situation to worsen over the next 12 months.

Just 19% expect their finances to improve, while 38% believe they will remain unchanged.

The research was carried out by PureProfile among a nationally representative sample of 1,000 UK adults between March 13 and March 18, 2026.