The Countryside Alliance has submitted evidence to HM Treasury’s Access to Banking Services Review, warning that protecting access to cash alone is not enough for rural communities and businesses.

Responding to the Call for Evidence that closes today (20 July), the Alliance argues that rural residents and businesses need access to the full range of banking services. These include business banking, lending advice, account support, fraud and scam assistance, bereavement services, power of attorney arrangements and face-to-face help with complex financial matters.

Bank branch closures continue to have a significant impact on rural Britain. While the government has taken some steps to protect access to cash, the review recognises that access to cash is not the same as access to banking. A cash machine or basic deposit facility cannot replace the support a local branch can supply when customers need help with more complex issues.

Rural businesses, including village shops, pubs, butchers, farm shops, tourism businesses and independent retailers, often depend upon regular in-person banking. They need to deposit cash securely, obtain change, discuss finance and lending, resolve account problems and receive support when fraud or financial difficulties arise. As local branches close, many business owners are forced to travel long distances simply to carry out routine banking tasks, adding time, fuel costs and administrative burden.

The Alliance also warns that digital banking cannot yet replace physical banking in many rural areas. Poor broadband and mobile connectivity mean online banking is not always a realistic alternative, particularly for older people, disabled people and those without reliable internet access.

Our response recognises the growing importance of rural Post Offices and welcomes the rollout of banking hubs, but argues both need to be resourced to offer a wider range of services if they are to meet the needs of rural communities. It also calls for banking access assessments to consider real travel times, public transport availability, local business needs and the risk of rural crime, rather than relying solely on straight-line distances.

Among our recommendations, the Countryside Alliance is calling for Rural Banking Impact Assessments to be made mandatory before branches are closed, an accelerated rollout of banking hubs, sustainable support for rural Post Offices to expand banking services and recognition of access to banking services as an essential part of rural infrastructure.

The Alliance concludes that a modern banking system should be judged not only by the availability of cash or digital channels, but by whether people and businesses, wherever they live, can access the financial services they need to participate fully in the economy. For rural Britain, that means protecting meaningful face-to-face banking support alongside existing protections for access to cash.

You can read our full response to the Call for Evidence here.