Over the past year, we have continued to raise serious concerns about the rapid loss of banking services and the growing difficulties many pensioners face in accessing cash.
The closure of high street bank branches across the UK has been well documented. For many pensioners, local bank branches provide vital face-to-face services that cannot easily be replaced by digital alternatives. When these branches disappear, people are often expected to rely on Post Office services or online banking instead.
In recent LLA meetings with Members of Parliament, we have highlighted that the closure of Post Office branches and counters in many high streets is compounding the loss of local banking facilities. In communities where both banks and Post Office services are disappearing, older people can be left with very limited options to withdraw cash, deposit cheques, or receive in-person support.
Against this background, we were encouraged by a recent report in the Daily Express (26 February 2026) confirming that at least 11,500 Post Office branches will be maintained across the country. Maintaining a strong Post Office network is essential if communities are to retain basic banking access where traditional bank branches have closed.
At the same time, recent media coverage has underlined the ongoing problems facing customers. An article in the Sunday Telegraph (1 March 2026) reported that some customers of Lloyds and Halifax were unable to deposit cheques at Post Office branches, despite their local bank branches having closed. Situations like this demonstrate why it is so important that alternative banking arrangements genuinely meet the needs of customers when branches disappear.
Over the past year, alongside our LLA partners we have met with a number of MPs from across the political spectrum to discuss the impact of bank closures and the move towards a cash-light society.
This engagement has already produced results. As part of this work, Wendy Chamberlain MP, the Liberal Democrat Chief Whip, tabled parliamentary questions about bank closures on behalf of the LLA, helping to bring greater scrutiny to the issue.
Alongside this parliamentary engagement written submissions have been made to consultations by the Financial Conduct Authority on access to cash, as well as to the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan in 2025. These contributions have highlighted the importance of ensuring that older people are not excluded as banking and financial services become increasingly digital.
Through this work, the CSPA will continue to campaign for fair access to banking services, protection of the Post Office network, and the continued availability of cash for those who rely on it. Ensuring that pensioners can manage their money safely and independently remains one of our key campaign priorities.