Written question asked by Wendy Morton (Conservative) on Tuesday, 16 June 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 18 June 2026. It was answered by Rachel Blake (Labour) on Wednesday, 24 June 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.
Banking Services
- Question
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To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Pursuant to the answer of 9 June 2026 to Questions 6391, 6395 and 6396, what evidence of consumer detriment led her Department to commission the independent Review into Access to Banking Services announced on 14 May 2026; and whether her Department had undertaken any prior assessment of the adequacy of access to in-person banking services before announcing that review.
- Answer
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The Government is aware of the public’s concerns around access to banking services, which are currently not protected in legislation. Whilst there is evidence on a local level of individuals being affected by the closure of bank branches, the Government needs robust evidence from across the UK. The Government therefore commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services. The Review will identify who is affected by changes to access to in-person banking services and how many people are affected. It will also look at what kinds of banking services are important for people to be able to access.
The Review is designed to inform future decisions by the Government and regulators as to whether further action is needed and what this might look like, including through the Financial Services and Markets Bill.
The Government continues to support industry’s rollout of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs are deployed by industry as a voluntary solution to LINK’s access to cash assessments, though they also provide some banking services.
Over 275 hubs have been announced and over 235 have opened. The commitment to 350 hubs is not a limit, and Cash Access UK will deploy a banking hub wherever LINK, the industry coordinating body responsible for making access to cash assessments, following a community request or branch closure, suggests one is appropriate.
HMT launched the Access to Banking Services Review Call for Evidence on 8 June and will run for 6 weeks, closing on 20 July, inviting input from consumers, businesses, charities, community groups, local authorities and industry across the UK. The evidence will inform recommendations, with findings due in October. Responses can be submitted here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/access-to-banking-services-review-call-for-evidence.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 10149
- Session
- 2026-27
- Related items
- Grouped for answer
- Yes
- Subjects
- Access Bank services Reviews
- Link
- View this Written question on www.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
- Timestamp
- 2026-06-24 17:07:35 +0100
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