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Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026

Correspondence from FCA on Access to Cash regime – post-implementation evaluation, dated 8 July 2026

From: Treasury Committee

Inquiry: Work of the Financial Conduct Authority

Summary

The FCA writes to the Treasury Committee Chair to announce it is pausing its planned post-implementation evaluation of the Access to Cash regime, originally scheduled for Q2 2027. The pause reflects the concurrent Lloyd Review on Access to Banking Services (reporting October 2026) and the Financial Services and Markets Bill's progression through Parliament, both of which cover overlapping ground. The FCA will resume evaluation planning after the Lloyd Review publishes.

Key findings

  • FCA is pausing its standalone evaluation of the Access to Cash regime to avoid duplication with the independent Lloyd Review, commissioned by HM Treasury and due to report October 2026.
  • More than 95% of the UK population currently has access to cash within the distances specified in HM Treasury's Cash Access Policy Statement.
  • LINK has completed over 1,500 cash access assessments, resulting in approximately 275 banking hubs and other cash access solutions being delivered.
  • The Financial Services and Markets Bill progressing through Parliament will provide government powers to implement any Lloyd Review recommendations.
  • FCA will continue active supervision of the Access to Cash regime and engagement with key stakeholders while awaiting the Lloyd Review outcome.

Tone

Procedural

Topics

financial-servicesbankingconsumer-protectioncash-access

Key actors

Dame Meg Hillier, FCA (Financial Conduct Authority), HM Treasury, Richard Lloyd, David Geale, LINK

Notable line

“Proceeding with a standalone evaluation would risk duplication with the Lloyd Review and pre-empt any resulting future legislative developments.”

Key Quotes

“In light of these developments, we have decided to pause the planned evaluation of the Access to Cash regime.”
— David Geale, FCA · announcing the evaluation pause
“For most people, access to cash remains good, with more than 95% of the 1 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hm-treasury-access-to-banking-services-review population within …”
— David Geale, FCA · on current cash access outcomes
“To date, LINK has undertaken over 1,500 cash access assessments, with approximately 275 resulting in the delivery of banking hubs and other cash access solutions.”
— David Geale, FCA · on regime implementation progress
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗

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