M&S Money Goes Back to the Future to Compare Student Bedrooms

LONDON, September 17, 2010 - M&S Money has announced the results of a new survey that reveal the
average student bedroom contains a massive GBP1620 worth of gear.

The average student crams into their room almost GBP699 worth of
electrical gadgets and appliances, GBP444 worth of clothes, sports equipment
valued at GBP246 and textbooks worth GBP231, according to the poll by M&S
Money*.

The huge value of a student's bedroom is not surprising, with over half
of students (55%) owning a laptop, 48% possessing a MP3 player and 20% a
widescreen television.

But students' expensive tastes are nothing new as the survey also
revealed what the typical university bedroom of 1985 looked like.

While today's students listen to music through their MP3 player and
stereo, students in 1985 enjoyed the sounds of Wham and Tears for Fears
through their Walkman, ghetto blaster and turntable.

In the same year that 'Back to the Future' hit the big screens, the
students of 1985 were watching the first episodes of Eastenders on their
black and white TVs.

The 1985 student bedroom was also likely to contain an alarm clock,
scientific calculator, Breville toaster, and even a landline phone for the
lucky few.

The survey also revealed that only 8% of the 1985 students said they were
burgled while at university, compared to 27% of current students.

Andrew Ferguson, M&S Head of General Insurance, said: "While the contents
of a student's bedroom have changed a great deal in the past 25 years, one
thing remains the same - they have expensive tastes.

"Our survey shows the modern day student bedroom is a goldmine for
thieves, so insurance could be the best investment students make this
autumn."

The survey was carried out to mark the 25th anniversary of the launch of
the financial services arm of M&S**, today known as M&S Money.

Notes to Editors

* Figures from OnePoll. Total sample size was 500 adults attending
university in 2010 and 500 adults who attended university in 1985. Fieldwork
was undertaken 14-23 August 2010. The survey was carried out online.

** St Michael Financial Services was formed in 1985 to oversee the
introduction of the M&S Chargecard, which was launched nationally in stores
on 2nd April 1985.

About M&S Money

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was
founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group
plc, making 2010 the company's 25th anniversary.

The company is a top-ten credit card provider (
money.marksandspencer.com/cards/credit-card/overview) and the
second-largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range
of insurance cover, including home & contents insurance (
money.marksandspencer.com/insurance/home-insurance/overview),
comprehensive car insurance (
money.marksandspencer.com/insurance/car-insurance/overview) and M&S
pet insurance (
money.marksandspencer.com/insurance/pet-insurance/overview), as well
as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC. HSBC Holdings
plc, the parent company of the HSBC Group, is headquartered in London. The
Group serves customers worldwide from around 8,000 offices in 88 countries
and territories in Europe, the Asia-Pacific region, the Americas, the Middle
East and Africa. With assets of US$2,364 billion at 31 December 2009, HSBC is
one of the world's largest banking and financial services organisations. HSBC
is marketed worldwide as 'the world's local bank'.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of
representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer. M&S Home Insurance policies
are provided by AXA Insurance UK plc. Terms, conditions, exclusions and
limitations apply. Calls may be monitored and recorded.

    PR Contact:
    Simon Coughlin
    Media Relations Manager
    M&S Money
    8 Canada Square
    Canary Wharf
    London
    E14 5HQ
    +44(0)20-7992-1574
    money.marksandspencer.com

PR Contact: Simon Coughlin, Media Relations Manager, M&S Money, 8 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HQ, +44(0)20-7992-1574