Banks and building societies must protect access to cash. Find out how you can request a review for your local area.
On this page 
Our rules mean that banks and building societies must assess how easy it is for you to access cash in your local area. This includes paying in and taking out cash, including notes and coins. Where there are significant gaps, they need to fill them.
The Government has chosen 14 banks and building societies and 1 coordination body to deliver this.
What banks and building societies need to do
Banks and building societies must review access to cash in a local community when:
- changes are made to services, for example, if a branch, cash machine or Post Office closes or changes its opening hours
- 'cash access requests' are submitted by local residents, businesses, and representatives
If banks and building societies are planning to close facilities, including branches, which would affect your ability to pay in or withdraw cash, they must keep them open until the necessary cash services are available.
How to submit a cash access request
If you live, work, or run a business in a local area, and you’re concerned about accessing cash, you can request a review. Both individuals and local organisations can submit reviews.
Organisations will be able to share a wider view of community needs, including the most vulnerable residents and the businesses that rely on cash.
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Check services in your area
Before making a request, you should check what cash withdrawal and deposit services are already available in your local area.
LINK has a Cash Locator[1] to help with this.
If your area doesn’t have the right services, or they aren’t suitable because of opening hours, for example, then you can request a review.
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Submit a request
You can also submit a request directly with one of the 14 banks and building societies.
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Firms carry out reviews
Firms have 12 weeks to carry out reviews and publish the outcomes.
- If the review finds that additional services are needed, firms must deliver those services within 3 months of the review, unless there are exceptional circumstances.
- A review won’t always find that additional services are needed. But if you’re unhappy with the outcome, communities have 28 days to request an assessment of the outcome. This must then be completed by the firm within 12 weeks.
What reviews need to consider
The reviews will need to:
- identify where there are gaps in cash access which are having, or could have, a significant effect on local communities
- consider the ability to take out and pay in cash, for both individuals and businesses, where there have been closures or changes
- identify what additional services are needed, if significant gaps exist