Post offices provide a vital service to local communities. But changes like the use of the internet have had a big effect on the mail and post office service. The UK government has put almost £2 billion into supporting the post office network, and helping to keep the local branch post office network open. The government has also resisted calls to end the Post Office Card Account. We’ve had a few closures in our area, but most of the local post offices have been able to stay open.

But the long term future of the post office is only going to be secure if the network can get new business to replace that which is being lost. So I recently organised a meeting in the House of Commons to look at ways in which local post offices can provided more banking services, which could bring in a lot of business in the future.

The local Post Office is a vital part of the community, especially for older people who may not want to travel far to pay bills or get access to cash as well as the large number of people who do not have a bank account at all. But banks have tended to close branches in areas with significant numbers of people on low income on the grounds that they are not profitable enough to keep open.
 
Banks should provide a service to the community. Sadly, in recent years many seem to have been more interested in high returns on speculative ventures than ordinary customers, especially those that just want a basic bank account.
 
The result has been that people on low income have had to spend more to get money. This can include taking out loans on credit cards or from doorstep lenders at sky-high rates of interest. Those unable to pay by direct debit also pay more for basic utilities such as heat and electricity.
 
The Post Office already has a branch network that adds up to more than all of the high street banks put together. As a first step, I believe that every bank should allow access to accounts through the Post Office. The Post Office Card Account could also be extended to allow payment of utility bills by direct debit. Another of the ideas put forward at my meeting was for the Post Office to work with credit unions in providing banking services.