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Written question asked by Harriet Cross (Conservative) on Tuesday, 14 July 2026, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 16 July 2026. It was answered by Rachel Blake (Labour) on Thursday, 16 July 2026 on behalf of the Treasury.

Bank Services: Post Offices

Question

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment the Government's Access to Banking Services Review is making of the role that the Post Office's network of branches could play in providing access to in-person banking services for people who are digitally excluded or require face-to-face support.

Answer

The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services.

That is why the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, to assess whether changes to access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects, including the digitally excluded. The Review will consider access to in-person banking services for both personal and business customers.

As part of this, the Review will consider existing forms of in-person banking provision. The Post Office provides banking services through over 10,000 branches via the Banking Framework agreement and, as such, the provision of services by the Post Office on behalf of banks will be considered as part of the Review.

Alongside the Review, the Financial Services and Markets Bill includes a power to allow the Government to take action in future to protect access to banking services, should this be necessary. This power ensures the Government can act swiftly and proportionately, including through future regulation, if the evidence from the Review supports intervention.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
18916
Session
2026-27
Grouped for answer
Yes
Subjects
Bank services Post offices
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk