Scottish Widows has denied expectations that October 2014 is the set date for return to protection markets, although it said it was still ‘on track' for re-entry in late 2014 to early 3015.
The provider confirmed its commitment to returning to the intermediary market by appointing a new head of intermediary protection, Esther Dijsktra, propositions in May this year, stating a target of "towards the end of 2014" at the time.
Refuting the October rumour, Kevin Brown, media relations manager at Lloyds Banking Group, Scottish Widows owner, said: "This is not the case. We have always said the tail end of 2014 but have never guaranteed that that would be the case.
"The plan is still to aim for 2014 but it could well be 2015. We have never set a definitive date for this as we want to get this right when we do it, and, of course there is other stuff going on as well.
"When there is a date firming up we will be definitely be letting everybody know on a widespread basis."