The UK insurance industry is an important contributor to the economy, a major employer and a significant source of overseas earnings. It helps businesses to protect themselves from risk and provides a wide range of services to the general public, from pensions to car and house insurance. The insurance industry has always been a significant contributor to the UK's net exports, but perhaps in the past has not always been recognised as such. It has overtaken banking to become the largest contributor to the UK's financial sector net exports.