On Friday (29 September 2023) Barclays closed three more of it’s branches in Redditch, Bude and Hanover Square London. They are not alone. In recent weeks, HSBC, Lloyds and Halifax have also pulled down the shutters for the last time on branches across the country. Since 2015 nearly 5000 branches have closed and more than …
Tag archives: financial inclusion
Financial Services and Markets Bill Amendments: Financial Inclusion
Currently the Financial Services and Markets Bill is progressing through Committee Stage in the House of Lords. I am putting forward several amendments to the Bill and this week introduced a proposal that I hope would ensure more is done to improve financial inclusion. I have long argued that the Government must do more to …
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Fintech regulation: a look back at 2022 and a look ahead to 2023
Back in February, I wrote a piece for Finextra titled, ‘For financial services, 2022 is a year of real regulatory possibilities. Through a series of events – impossible to have imagined at the time – Rishi Sunak, the then Chancellor is now the Prime Minister and the progress on fintech regulation I had hoped for …
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UK Fintech Week Round Up
What a brilliant and busy week celebrating UK Fintech. As the Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen MP, said on Monday “fintech is punching higher and harder”. In his speech he also highlighted progress one year on from the Kalifa Review and I’m particularly delighted that Ron Kalifa himself is chairing the Steering Group …
Access to Cash Crisis
Thousands of bank branches closed Analysis of bank branch closures since 2015 have shown not only that huge numbers of bank branches are closing but also that closures are happening at an accelerating pace. Over 700 bank branches closed last year alone and 220 branches are already scheduled to close this year (2022). In total, …
Cash Network – Question
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what plans they have to amend competition law to enable collective action to ensure an efficient, effective, accessible, and sustainable cash network across the United Kingdom.