Cash

Banks and building societies will face fines if they fail to protect consumers' free access to cash under new powers being given to the financial regulator. 

Seven 'banking hubs' are now up and running in the UK, after the latest opened in Carnoustie in Scotland this week – and four more locations have been announced today (Wednesday 12 July). 

Thousands more local businesses across the UK will now let shoppers withdraw from 1p to £100 in cash for free – without them having to buy anything – as part of a new initiative by high street bank Barclays. And you DON'T need to bank with Barclays to benefit.

Today (30 September) is the final day before paper £20 and £50 notes are withdrawn from circulation, so act now before shops stop accepting them. You can spend the notes until midnight tonight, but after that you'll have to bank them or swap them.

Time is running out to check down the back of your sofa for any soon-to-be-discontinued paper £20 and £50 notes. There are only 100 days left before they become invalid but the latest figures from the Bank of England show there are almost £15 billion-worth of notes still around. 

New powers will be given to the financial regulator allowing it to fine banks that fail to protect consumers' access to cash. Here's what's happening. 

An estimated 10 million people would struggle to cope if the UK was to go completely cashless, according to a new report, which comes as bank branch closures escalate and calls grow for the financial regulator to safeguard access to cash.

Time to check down the back of your sofas for any soon-to-be-discontinued paper £20 and £50 notes, as the latest figures from the Bank of England show there are £17.6 billion's worth still floating around. But be quick, as there are only a few months left before they become invalid.

Consumers would be able to get cashback from shops without making a purchase under new Government proposals, which are designed to protect access to cash. 

Barclays has scrapped plans to stop customers being able to withdraw cash from post offices.