Lloyds Tsb S Top Ten Quirky Loans Requests

48/04 31 March 2004

LLOYDS TSB’S TOP TEN QUIRKY LOANS REQUESTS

With April Fool’s day almost upon us, many people will be watching out for the latest prank. To mark the occasion, Lloyds TSB Personal Loans has published a list of the top 10 quirkiest loan requests, which some might think are a joke, but are in fact genuine requests!

The 10 most unusual loan requests from the UK’s number one lender1, which launches its lowest ever loans rate of 6.9%2 on 1 April 2004, makes interesting reading:

1. A loan to buy the ingredients to bake the world’s largest cake 2. A loan for a deposit to be on the waiting list for cryogenic freezing 3. A loan to build a robot for Robot Wars (TV programme) 4. A loan to buy a Spice Girl’s dress in an auction 5. A loan to bid online for a date with a famous footballer 6. A 40 year old man requested a loan to meet Mickey Mouse in America 7. A loan to buy a Bengal tiger 8. A woman asked for a loan to get her teeth sorted in time for her wedding day 9. A loan to remove a rat’s nest from the engine of a motorbike 10. A £3,000 loan to buy a British Bulldog

Tony Gibbons, director of Lloyds TSB Personal Loans, said: “While the British might be renowned for being reserved, our records prove we still have our fair share of eccentrics. We’re not taking the Mickey, but we do have a customer who went to meet him!

“These requests demonstrate that people can use loans as a way to help express themselves as individuals. The top three reasons for taking out a loan are still holidays, cars and home improvements but as our records show, sometimes people apply for money for something just that little bit out of the ordinary.” …/more LLOYDS TSB’S TOP TEN QUIRKY LOANS REQUESTS/…2

At 6.9% Lloyds TSB now offers one of the best interest rates on the market 3. For more information on this loan offer log on to www.lloydstsb.com or call 0800 781 3000.

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Notes to Editors: 1TNS PhoneBus Survey (sample 1000) Feb.2004 2Rate only available on new loans over £7,500 3 Loans from Barclays 9.9 per cent APR, NatWest 10.9 per cent APR, HSBC 11.9 per cent APR

For further information: Amy Davies Lloyds TSB Press Office Tel: 020 7356 1714 E: [email protected] www.mediacentre.lloydstsb.com