Rural Banking Services

Opened the debate

The MP is concerned about the decline of cash use during the pandemic, particularly affecting older and vulnerable people in rural areas with poor broadband coverage. She mentions a 55% drop in cash withdrawals in her constituency within six months of the pandemic's start. The closure of Barclays bank in Llandrindod Wells will cause significant problems for residents who rely on it for daily transactions. There is no replacement for face-to-face interaction and physical banking services in rural areas, which are vital for local high streets and businesses.

Government Response

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship this morning, Mr Gray, and I commend my hon. Friend the Member for Brecon and Radnorshire on securing this debate and on the eloquent way in which she set out a whole range of issues concerning her constituents. From my first-hand experience growing up in rural Wiltshire, as part of a family running a very small business, I know the significance of bank branches and the central role that they have in the community. However, I also have to recognise that the world that we live in today is very different from the one of a few decades ago. Technological progress means that more consumers and businesses are opting for digital payments and banking. Since 2017, major high street banks have been signed up to the access to banking standard which commits banks to ensuring that customers are well informed about branch closures and the reasons behind them, and that customers have options for continued access to banking services. The Financial Conduct Authority has clarified banks' responsibilities around closures by publishing guidance setting out its expectations of firms that decide to reduce their physical branches or the number of free-to-use ATMs. Banks are expected to consider alternative access arrangements and the impact of planned closures on customers' everyday banking and cash access needs. Additionally, LINK has said it will protect the broad geographic spread of free-to-use ATMs, being held accountable by the Payment Systems Regulator. The Government is committed to legislating to protect access to cash for those who need it while ensuring that the UK's cash infrastructure is sustainable. The Financial Services Act 2021 brought new laws into effect supporting widespread offering of cashback without a purchase by shops and other businesses, providing a valuable facility for cash users. Earlier this month, we published a consultation outlining broader legislative proposals to ensure people need travel only a reasonable distance to pay in or take out cash with the right regulatory oversight for cash access in place for the future. The Post Office is also playing a key role; 95% of businesses and 99% of personal banking customers can deposit cheques, check their balances and withdraw/deposit cash across a network of 11,500 post office branches across the country with the requirement to ensure that 95% of the total UK rural population is within three miles of an outlet. The Government remain committed to delivering UK-wide gigabit connectivity by providing £5 billion to support roll-out in the hardest-to-reach areas and are working with industry to target a minimum of 85% giga-capable coverage by 2025, aiming for as close to 100% as possible. The Government are also looking at the difficult challenges in some communities through our barrier-busting task force to make real differences on the ground.