Men twice as likely to have secret bank account
Men are twice as likely as women to have a savings account they keep secret from their partner, according to a new survey.
By Nick Collins
Published: 7:00AM BST 07 Sep 2010
One in six people in Britain has a secret bank account Photo: ALAMY
Some 22 per cent of men admit hiding money from their partner, putting aside an average of £2,128 each, compared with 11 per cent of women hiding an average of £1,927. While one in six people in Britain has a secret bank account, with the average person stashing more than £2,000, one in 20 people is concealing more than £10,000 from their partner, figures indicated.
About 15 per cent of people have savings they have not told their partner about, according to the survey carried out by the Post Office. A quarter of those say they have kept the money secret in case their relationship with their partner breaks down, while 18 per cent said their personal finances were not their partner's concern. A further 20 per cent said the cash made them feel more independent, and 10 per cent admitted they had to keep their savings secret, or their partner would spend them.
Doug Strachan, director of financial services at the Post Office, said: "While people have secret savings accounts for many different reasons, it's wise to be open and honest about money with loved ones to avoid strained relationships. "By discussing significant financial decisions with close family and friends, people are more likely to make well-informed choices and prevent potential money issues spiralling out of control." :: OnePoll questioned 2,258 people for the Post Office.
