Virgin Money launches protection partnership with Friends Life...again

Virgin Money has announced the re-launch of a protection partnership with Friends Life, which is due to start in January 2014. This follows the launch of a similar partnership with Friends Provident as recently as September 2009. 

More information on the partnership is expected to follow, but cover will be available in-store (at the branches acquired from Northern Rock), online and over the phone. 

Virgin originally launched a protection partnership with Scottish Widows in 2006, which was marketed as "Cancer Cover" but which was criticised by some for its lack of coverage. 

Virgin Money continues to work with BDML for home and motor insurance, UK Insurance for pet insurance and Insure & Go (Mapfre) for travel insurance. 

M&S reappoints RSA for pet insurance

M&S has announced the renewal of its pet insurance partnership with RSA for a further 5 years. 

RSA has displayed a real appetite for pet insurance affinity deals in recent years; as demonstrated by its similar partnerships with John Lewis, Home Retail Group (Argos & Homebase) and Tesco.

M&S continues to partner with AXA for home and travel insurance and works with a Junction-led panel for car insurance. 

Sainsbury's Bank replaces AXA (and Capita) with Allianz for pet insurance

Sainsbury's Bank has announced a new partnership, set to launch in the autumn, with Allianz for its pet insurance products. The length of the deal has not yet been announced, but Sainsbury's has been active in this market since 1998. 

The decision is likely to come as a blow to AXA which currently partners with Sainsbury's Bank and for Thornside, the pet insurance arm of Capita Insurance Distribution. Since 2010, Thornside has been responsible for the sales, fulfilment and claims handling of the Sainsbury's  pet insurance partnership with AXA.

The partnership is another significant one for Allianz, which has recently secured the Ford motor insurance deal. UKI continues to partner with Sainsbury's Bank for home and motor insurance.