Overview
- The Treasury, which launched the Access to Banking Review on Thursday, tasked chair Richard Lloyd to deliver recommendations by October 2026.
- The review will collect evidence on how branch closures affect daily banking, identify who struggles most, and map where in‑person services fall short, with Which? counting about 6,700 closures since 2015.
- Its conclusions will feed into the Enhancing Financial Services Bill that would let the government intervene quickly if access to in‑person banking is at risk.
- Shared banking hubs are a key stopgap, offering cash services at Post Office counters and some bank help on site, with the government citing 230‑plus open and 275‑plus announced, and Cash Access UK reporting 237 hubs and over 140 deposit points.
- Charities and consumer groups say older people, those with mental health problems, customers who are not online, and small firms that need to bank cash are hit hardest, and they plan to submit evidence to the inquiry.