PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(3 September 2026)

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.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) assumed regulatory responsibility for access to cash in September 2024. Its rules require reasonable access to cash withdrawal and deposit facilities for individuals and businesses, including free services for personal accounts.

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 making 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.

The most recent FCA data shows 98.1 per cent of people in rural areas live within 3 miles of a free-to-use cash access point offering withdrawals.

In addition to access to cash, the Government is committed to ensuring that people who need in-person banking can continue to access essential services. 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.

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 and the scale of any detriment. 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.

The Government understands the importance of banking services to communities, including those in rural and coastal areas and market towns, and continues to work closely with industry to support the roll-out of 350 banking hubs by the end of this Parliament. Over 280 hubs have been announced so far, and more than 240 are already open across the UK.

Banking hubs host community bankers from the main high street banks who can offer a wider range of services similar to those offered in branches, including fraud support. A list can be found here: https://www.cashaccess.co.uk/hubs/community-banker-services/