To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which (a) banks, (b) building societies and (c) credit unions are (i) accessible and (ii) not accessible through the Post Office network; what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on encouraging more financial institutions to provide products and services via the Post Office network; and if he will make a statement. (106958)

The most recent FSA guide to basic bank accounts, published in September 2006, lists 17 providers whose basic bank accounts are accessible at the Post Office. Recent evidence published by the Treasury Select Committee lists 10 providers whose current accounts are accessible at the Post Office.

Basic bank accounts accessible at the Post Office¹

Abbey: Basic Account

Alliance and Leicester: Basic Cash Account

Bank of Ireland: Basic Cash Account (only available in Northern Ireland and Eire)

Bank of Scotland: Easycash

Barclays: Cash Card Account

Clydesdale: Cashmaster

Co-operative Bank: Cashminder

First Trust Bank: Basic Bank Account

Halifax: Easycash

HSBC: Basic Bank Account

Lloyds TSB: Cash Account

Nationwide Building Society: Flex Cash Card

NatWest: Step Account

Northern Bank: Northern Personal Access

The Royal Bank of Scotland: Key Account

Ulster Bank: Basic Bank Account

Yorkshire Bank: Readycash

Current accounts accessible at the Post Office²

Alliance and Leicester

Bank of Ireland

Barclays (in England and Wales)

Cahoot

Clydesdale Bank

The Co-operative Bank

Nationwide Building Society

Lloyds TSB (in England, Wales and Scotland)

Smile

First Direct (Scotland only)

Sources:

¹FSA

² Treasury Committee Evidence

There is no agreement between credit unions and Post Office Limited to provide access to credit union accounts at the Post Office. However, some sub-post offices have individual agreements to provide access to local credit union accounts.

The Government are committed to promoting financial inclusion. Treasury Ministers have had a number of discussions with other Government Departments on a range of topics related to promoting access to appropriate banking products and other financial services.