The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences.

However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Banking hubs are a voluntary service which were developed by the financial services sector in the context of legislation to protect access to cash under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. The Government continues to engage with industry on ways to improve the consistency and level of services provided through banking hubs.

On 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed. 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.

The Government also recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responsibility and powers to protect access to cash, including free facilities for personal current account holders. The FCA’s most recent data shows that 99.2% of the urban population live within 1 mile of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals. In rural areas, 98.5% of people live within 3 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals.

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.

Where a branch closure is announced or a community has submitted a cash access assessment request, LINK (the operator of the UK's largest ATM network) assesses a community's access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities on behalf of the UK's largest high street banks.

According to LINK, since January 2022, LINK has completed 3,511 assessments. Of these, 1,846 have been undertaken under the FCA-regulated scheme introduced in September 2024, with a further 1,665 carried out under the preceding voluntary scheme.

2,883 assessments resulted in no additional services being recommended.

LINK has recommended 280 banking hubs to date.

For each assessment, LINK publishes information on journey times to the nearest bank branches, as well as distances to the nearest ATMs and Post Offices. The assessment process also takes into account factors such as seasonality and geographic barriers, although these are not explicitly detailed in the published reports. Further information on LINK’s assessment methodology is available here:

link.co.uk/media/0baiyadq/link-cash-access-assessment-process.pdf

The way people across the UK use retail banking services has changed significantly, with many customers now choosing to bank online. In response, banks and building societies have reshaped their branch networks, reflecting changing customer preferences. However, the Government understands the importance of banking services to communities and high streets and is committed to supporting the financial services industry’s roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament.

Over 275 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 235 are already open. Of these, 70 are temporary hubs. Temporary hubs offer the same services as permanent hubs.

LINK, the operator of the UK’s largest ATM network, is responsible for assessing a community’s access to cash needs and does not consider bank service provision. When asked to carry out a cash access assessment, LINK takes into consideration a wide range of criteria, including those unique to each location, such as the size and vulnerability of the population, existing and remaining cash access facilities and the number of shops. Specifically, LINK takes into consideration population demographics, seasonal population change, public transport times and cost, geographic barriers, and whether it is reasonable for people to travel to nearby facilities.

LINK uses a catchment area of 3 miles in rural locations and 1 mile in urban areas and considers if there is a significant impact on nearby towns. As part of its assessments, LINK will consider the available services in a community, including existing ATM provision, and recommend additional solutions if it is deemed necessary to ensure reasonable access to cash.

Where a hub is recommended by LINK following a planned branch closure, the branch cannot close until a suitable replacement service is in place. The average time to open a hub driven by the closure of the last bank in a town is under 12 months. Where a hub is recommended following a community request, Cash Access UK aims to provide a temporary solution within three months. FCA rules also require that, where additional services are needed, a solution must be put in place within 12 weeks, which may initially be a temporary service ahead of a permanent hub.

The provision of a bank’s services is a commercial decision for the firm, and the Government does not intervene in these decisions. However, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) guidance expects firms to carefully consider the impact of planned branch closures on their customers’ everyday banking and cash access needs and put in place alternatives where reasonable.

In addition to bank branches and banking hubs, the Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers to withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and pay bills at more than 10,500 Post Office branches across the UK. The Government protects the Post Office network by setting minimum access criteria. These include ensuring that 99 per cent of the UK population lives within three miles of a Post Office and 90 per cent of the population within one mile.

The Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services. That is why on 14 May the Government commissioned an independent Review into Access to Banking Services, to assess whether changes in access to in-person banking services are causing consumer detriment, the scale of any detriment, and who it affects. The Review will consider access to in-person banking services for both personal and business customers.

The Call for Evidence has been published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/access-to-banking-services-review-call-for-evidence. It will run for 6 weeks and will close on 20 July.

Responses to the Call for Evidence can be submitted online via: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/accesstobankingservices . Those wishing to submit via email, including supplementary evidence, research or data can do so at accesstobankingservices@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

The evidence collected by the Review will inform future decisions on whether further action is needed.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act (2023) the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responsibility and powers to protect access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities, including free facilities for personal current account holders. The FCA’s most recent data shows that 99.2% of the urban population live within 1 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals. In rural areas, 98.5% of people live within 3 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals

LINK, the UK’s not-for-profit, independently governed ATM operator, publish data on the number of ATMs nationally and across each parliamentary constituency. This includes a breakdown of the number of pay-to-use ATMs operated by the LINK network. LINK data estimates that in 2025, there were 42,403 ATMs in the UK, including 8,693 pay-to-use ATMs. This data can be found at https://www.link.co.uk/data-research/the-atm-network

Customers can also access everyday cash and banking services at Post Office branches. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers of participating banks to withdraw and deposit cash; for personal customers this service is free. Customers are also able to check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

The Government recognises that cash continues to be used by millions of people across the UK, including those in vulnerable groups, and is committed to protecting access to cash for individuals and businesses.

Under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has responsibility and powers to protect access to cash, including free facilities for personal current account holders. The FCA’s most recent data shows that 99.2% of the urban population live within 1 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals. In rural areas, 98.5% of people live within 3 miles of a free to use cash access point offering withdrawals.

LINK, the UK’s not‑for‑profit, independently governed ATM operator, publish data on the number of ATMs across each parliamentary constituency. This includes a breakdown of the number of pay-to-use ATMs operated by the LINK network. LINK data estimates that in 2025, there were 42,403 ATMs in the UK, including 8,693 pay-to-use ATMs. In the constituency of North-East Somerset and Hanham, LINK data identifies that there are 4 pay-to-use ATMs out of 28 ATMs overall. This data can be found at https://www.link.co.uk/data-research/the-atm-network

Customers can also access everyday cash and banking services at Post Office branches. The Post Office Banking Framework allows personal and business customers of participating banks are able to withdraw and deposit cash, for personal customers this service is free. Customers are also able to check their balance, pay bills and cash cheques at over 10,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

Banking is changing, with many customers benefiting from the convenience and flexibility of managing their finances remotely. However, the Government understands the importance of face-to-face banking services to communities and is committed to supporting sufficient access for customers across the country.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Where a resident, community organisation or other interested party feels access to cash in their community is insufficient, they can submit a request for a cash access assessment. LINK, the independent industry coordinating body responsible for conducting access to cash assessments, will then assess a community’s access to cash needs, and will recommend appropriate solutions, including banking hubs, where it considers a community requires additional cash services.

LINK’s assessment criteria are based on rules set by the FCA. The FCA’s rules require LINK to consider a range of factors in their assessments. This includes travel times to nearby cash facilities and local population demographics, including the levels of vulnerability and the number of elderly people within the community.

Any decisions on changes to LINK’s independent assessment criteria are a matter for LINK, the financial services sector, and for the FCA, which oversees the access to cash regime. Neither the FCA or LINK have responsibility for access to banking or in-person services.

To support communities across the UK, the financial services industry is committed to rolling out 350 banking hubs across the UK by the end of this Parliament. Over 270 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 210 are already open.

Banking hubs provide access to everyday counter services through Post Office staff, including cash withdrawals and deposits, balance enquiries and bill payments. They also contain dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank to carry out other banking services.