Access to Cash Machines for Basic Bank Account Holders

Book excerpt: In response to the Treasury Committee's inquiry, Barclays, HSBC and Santander all made a public commitment to continue to provide basic bank holders with unrestricted access to cash machines. In this report, the Treasury Committee makes clear its intent to write to the other providers of basic bank accounts asking for similar clarification and urges RBS and Lloyds TSB to remove their restrictions. Restricting access to cash machines could compromise the network. In certain areas, more than a third of ATMs could be placed at risk if other providers of basic bank accounts were to take similar action or to remove themselves from the LINK system. The Committee understands the need for banks to control costs and that in this instance the financial benefits to Lloyds and RBS appear relatively small. Those affected, though, would be amongst the most vulnerable people in society. In the longer run, both the way services are offered to customers and the charges they pay need reform to secure greater banking competition