Watch my question to the Treasury about boosting access to face-to-face banking

The campaign to open a banking hub in Totnes and improve banking services in rural areas continues!

Today, I asked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if the Government believes new regulation is needed to help rural areas retain face-to-face banking services.

While the Financial Conduct Authority is responsible for protecting access to cash, there is no government body overseeing access to face-to-face banking services, meaning these could be lost.

Lloyds Banking Group has already said its customers won’t be able to pay-in cheques at the Post Office from January.

When in opposition, Labour welcomed Conservative measures to protect cash access, but expressed concerns it didn’t protect face-to-face banking services, nor alternative arrangements like banking hubs.

Now, they have the power to change these measures and I urge them to do so.

Over 1,200 of you have now signed my petition calling for a banking hub to be opened in Totnes. If you haven’t signed it, please consider doing so via the link below.

https://www.carolinevoaden.com/save-totnes-banking-services

I’ll be meeting with a Treasury Minister soon to outline why our thriving market town needs to keep hold of banking services once Lloyds closes in January.