Not so long ago, only banks and traditional insurance companies offered financial or insurance products, yet today it may often seem as if even the local corner shop is offering financial products. That's not quite true, of course, but many more companies do offer financial products than used to be the case, and it can sometimes be difficult to decide who is offering the best deal.

And, while Marks & Spenser once offered mostly fashion products, with the only hint of a credit card being when you paid for your shopping at the checkout, today you'll find as good a deal on M&S credit cards as you will with the latest range of M&S fashion.

In fact, these days Marks and Spencer, through its M&S Financial Services website, offer a range of financial products which would not look out of place in many banks, including M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Home Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, savings products, M&S Credit Cards, M&S Loans, and much more besides.

When you're shopping at M&S online store for your summer outfit, or looking for furniture to give your home a makeover, then spend a moment to also consider products from M&S Financial Services. Offering everything from savings accounts and credit cards, to Home Insurance and Motor Insurance, there's a lot more going on at Marks & Spenser than you might imagine.

In particular, if you're thinking of travelling soon, then consider Travel Insurance from M&S Financial Services. With images of volcano ash still fresh in many traveller's minds, it's good to remember there were many travellers who ended up wishing they had spent just a few pounds extra to obtain travel insurance for their trip. Of course, unfortunately, after the event is too late!

In fact, had you purchased travel insurance from M&S Financial Services, you would have been in good hands; within just a short time of the volcanic ash disruptions, visitors to the M&S Financial Services website would have seen a message stating that although claims relating to volcanic eruptions are not normally covered by travel insurance, that on this particular occasion, they would "allow claims from UK customers affected by the volcanic ash that has recently grounded flights."

M&S Financial Services Insurance: There are, quite literally, hundreds of companies in the UK from whom you can purchase insurance. Whether you're looking for the best deal on Motor Insurance, buildings and contents insurance, or even wedding insurance, it doesn't take long to find a company that will sell you a policy.

However, not all insurance companies, and certainly not all insurance policies, are the same. What may be standard on one insurance policy may be an optional extra on another, for instance; Motor Insurance and Home Insurance are especially like this.

For example, most home and contents insurance policies either ask you to provide the total cost of rebuilding your home plus the total value of your home contents, or they will set an upper limit. This may seem fine at the time, but, in the event of a claim on your Home Insurance policy, the values act as maximum limits, and so you may, in effect, be under-insured and not receive the full value of your insurance claim.

Fortunately, M&S Financial Services Insurance does not have these insurance limits, excepting liability and cash cover, and therefore you can not be under-insured.

Château Gressina 2007 - Case of 12, at Marks n Spencer
Style: Medium bodied Grape variety: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec Country of origin: France Closure: Natural cork Suitable for vegetarians Bottle: 12 x 75cl. Alcohol by volume: 13% vol. Alcohol units per bottle: 9.8 Alcohol units per 125ml: 1.6 Contains sulphites You must be 18 or over to purchase this product This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more

3 Pairs of Cotton Blend Socks with Linen, at Marks & Spencers
Soft and comfortable, these cotton blend socks are naturally breathable and absorbent, keeping feet dry and comfy. A reinforced heel and toe gives extra durability

Portfolio Bobble Necklace, at Marks and Spencer
Clasp fastening Adjustable length Mixed bobble design Necklace length 95cm, extendable by 8cm

2 Piece Pure Cotton Dungaree Outfit, at Marks and Spencer
Cute and casual, these ribbed dungaree and frill trim top looks fabulously fashionable worn together or separately

Stormwear™ Pure Cotton Ambassador Stripe Hat, at Marks and Spencer
Designed to keep you dry, this hat is treated with Stormwear™, a unique finish that repels water and stains

Big & Tall Crease Resistant Fine Stripe Trousers, at Marks & Spenser
Stay smarter for longer with these innovative crease resistant trousers. Perfectly proportioned for big and tall men

Mini Limited Pure Cotton Tulip Skirt with Leggings, at Marks & Spencer
Mini Limited is a collection of cute fun styles designed in the latest looks. The casual, contemporary pieces are comfortable, easy to wear and perfect for layering

Hand Decorated Coloured Glass Bowl, at Mark & Spencers
Handmade Shallow dish Erratic edge Web design, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Per Una Styled Floral Embroidered High Leg Knickers, at M & S
Feminine and delicate, these stylish briefs feature a floral embroidered design and are finished with a center bow detail. Pretty everyday fashion

Earring Backs, at Marks and Spencer
3 sets of earring backs Gold-effect, silver-effect and glass-effect

Autograph Art Deco Jewellery Box, at Marks and Spencer
Art deco design 4 drawers Mirror finish Internal compartments 35 x 25 x 16cm

Footglove™ Wide Fit Wedge Moccasins, at Marks & Spencers
Step out in style in these wide fit Footglove™ moccasins, made from soft leather. Comfortable, lightweight and flexible

Mum & Dad Glitter Text Anniversary Card, at Marks & Spencer
Cover text: Happy Anniversary Mum & Dad Inside message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 175mm x 125mm

Mamma Mia - The Movie Soundtrack CD, at Mark & Spensers
Audio CD, Marks & Spencer

Ultimate Non Iron Royal Oxford Shirt, at Marks & Spencer
An innovative shirt in pure cotton. A special fabric finish and clever construction mean there is no need to iron this smart easycare shirt

Trainer Laces Birthday Card, at Mark & Spensers
Cover Text: Happy birthday Happy birthday Inside Message: Blank for your own message Approx size: 230 x 114mm

Bubble Base Decanter, at Mark's & Spencer
Bubble base design Hand made glass with heavy base Height: 25.5cm Capacity: 750ml (75cl), Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Pure Cotton Mock Layer Comic Print Top, at Marks and Spencer
Fun and fashionable, this long sleeve top in soft cotton features a comic print. A practical easycare style

Cotton Rich Leaf Damask Quilted Bedcover, at Marks & Spencer
Quilted design Leaf jacquard pattern L250 x W265cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Tiga Large Glazed Top Unit, at Marks and Spencers
H114 x W156 x D33cm 2 toughened-glass doors 2 fixed shelves Top unit sits on sideboard Made from sheesam wood Finished with a protective matt lacquer for added durability Free eco-friendly delivery to your home. Our crews will unpack, assemble and position the item Why use veneers? Unlike solid timber, veneer does not twist/warp/split to the same degree. Only the finest logs are used in veneer production. It is environmentally sound and traditional - much of the finest cabinetry in the world is veneered Care & Cleaning - Wipe with a soft clean cloth and use a mild furniture cleaner or polish occasionally. Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions, and be aware that polishes can add sheen This product is not available for international delivery. Find out more , Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Great Gadgets Book, at Mark & Spensers
Ever wondered what's going on inside your Xbox? Exactly what happened when you take a digital picture? Or how the internet sends data around the world in a split second? Discover all the secrets of the very coolest modern technology, how it works, how it's made and where it might lead in the future

Floral Fine Art Multipack of Mini Cards, at Marks and Spencer
Pack contains: 8 cards, 4 designs Cover text: All cards are blank Inside message: Blank for your own message This card is made with material from FSC certified sustainable forests. Protecting the world's forests for the future Approx size: 95 x 80mm

Machine Washable Twin Pleat Trousers with Wool, at MarksandSpencer
These trousers are a wardrobe staple. They are tailored from a wool blend fabric with elastane lycra for durability, good crease recovery and comfort in wear. What's more, you can machine wash and tumble-dry them - the ultimate convenience

Satin Rose Floral Cushion, at MarksandSpencer
Square Texture floral design L43 x W43cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Stainless Steel Steam Basket, at M&S
Stainless steel Perforated design H8 x Dia14cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Ruched Embroidered Cushion, at Marks and Spenser
Square shape Embroidered design Ruched feature Lined L43cm x W43cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Blue Lace Cushion, at Marks & Spencer
Rectangular shape Embroidered lace design Dimensions: L30 x W40cm, Manufacturer: Marks & Spencer

Multi-Strand Stretch Bracelet, at M&S
Multi-strand design Stretch style

Pure Cotton Hooded Reversible Jacket, at Mark's & Spencer
Soft fabrics, fashionable designs and cute finishing touches make our babywear range outstanding. This high quality, great value reversible jacket is designed to keep baby looking adorable and feeling comfy and happy

First Readers Goldilocks & the Three Bears, at Mark & Spencers
Based on the traditional folk tale 'Goldilocks and the Three Bears', this vibrantly illustrated story is sure to become a favourite in every home. Follow the naughty Goldilocks into the house of the three bears, and see what happens when they come home and find her!

Shopping for financial products at M&S Financial Services UK website is just as simple as shopping for fashion or furniture at the Marks and Spencers online store. Here are just some of the financial products which can be purchased via the M&S Financial Services website:

• M&S Insurance: M&S Motor Insurance, M&S Home Insurance, M&S Life Insurance, M&S Wedding Insurance, M&S Pet Insurance, M&S Travel Insurance
• M&S Credit Cards: M&S Credit Card, M&S Premium Club Card
• M&S Loans: M&S Car Buying Plan, M&S Personal Loans
• M&S Money: M&S Travel Money for your trips abroad
• M&S Savings: M&S Everyday Savings Account, M&S Fixed Rate Savings, M&S Stocks & Shares ISA, M&S Cash ISA, M&S Unit Trust

Of course, many of these types of product can be purchased elsewhere too; however, once you begin to take a closer look at the products from Marks n Spencer, it's easy to see that these are good financial products, at value-for-money prices.

And, just as importantly, contacting M&S Financial Services in the event of a query, or an insurance claim, is as easy as picking up the phone, or visiting the M&S Financial Services website.