23-01-04

Barrett joins forces with Lib Dem MPs over bank access at Post Offices

John Barrett, Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, has added his name to a joint letter from Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs to the three High Street banks, which still do not allow all their account holders to access their money over the post office counter.

A number of Banks in Scotland allow their customers to access their accounts in post offices.  However, three banks - Clydesdale Bank, Halifax Bank of Scotland and the Royal Bank of Scotland have decided against this idea. 

The ability for customers to access money at post offices is seen as particularly important in keeping up post office customers numbers, which could be hit by the Government's decision to pay pensions and benefits by direct payment.

Commenting, John Barrett said:

"The shift towards benefits and pensions being paid straight into people's bank accounts could result in sub-postmasters across the country facing huge losses in income. If the post office network is to survive it must find new ways of drawing people into branches - and find them fast.

"Unfortunately these three banks have decided it is not in their commercial interests to extend this facility to all their account holders, even if it is in the best interests of their customers in terms of access. It appears profit margins outweigh social responsibility for these banks and their decision stands in stark contrast to all those other banks, which will allow customers to access their accounts at the post office.

"It is for these reasons that my Scottish Liberal Democrat MP colleagues and I have joined forces to try and get these remaining banks to reconsider.  After all, the future of the Scottish post office network hangs in the balance."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

• John Barrett is one of six Scottish Liberal Democrat MPs who have signed a joint letter to The Clydesdale Bank, The Royal Bank of Scotland and Halifax Bank of Scotland.  The others are Alan Reid MP, Alistair Carmichael, Sir Robert Smith MP, Malcolm Bruce MP and Lib Dem leader Charles Kennedy MP.

• Banks which currently allow their account holders to access their money in Scottish post offices are: Lloyds TSB Scotland, Alliance & Leicester, Barclays, The Co-operative Bank, Cahoot, Smile, and First Direct.