The Post Office has secured a three-year deal with almost 30 of the UK’s biggest banks to ensure that customers can continue to access cash at 11,500 branches across the country. The deal, known as ‘Banking Framework 3’, will run until the end of 2025. We explain what the Banking Framework is and how you can use the Post Office to do your banking.
The Banking Framework
The Banking Framework is an agreement between the Post Office and all of the main UK banks and building societies - including Barclays, Lloyds and Nationwide - to provide free access to cash to people around the UK. Each agreement spans a three-year period, after which the Post Office and the banks renegotiate terms once again.
As branch numbers continue to plummet and leave millions miles away from their nearest bank, the Banking Framework provides vital access to cash for customers and businesses who rely on it for their day-to-day activities. Banks are not mandated to join the Banking Framework, but the Post Office is currently campaigning for the UK government to make it a legal requirement to provide free-to-use cash services nationwide.
Since the first Banking Framework was established in 2017, £7.8 billion in cash has been withdrawn in Post Office branches around the UK, along with some £22.1 billion in cash deposits. An estimated £2 billion of cash is withdrawn and deposited each month at Post Office branches.
Banking at the Post Office
Which Post Office branches let you access your bank account?
Every Post Office branch in the UK can be used to access certain high street bank and building society accounts.
Which banks can you access at the Post Office?
Bank accounts with the following providers can be accessed at the Post Office:
- Adam & Co
- Allied Irish Bank (GB)
- AIB (NI)
- Bank of Ireland
- Bank of Scotland
- Barclays
- Cahoot
- Cashplus Bank
- Coutts
- Co-Op
- Danske
- First Direct
- Halifax
- Handelsbanken
- HSBC
- Lloyds
- Nationwide
- NatWest
- RBS
- Santander
- Smile
- Starling Bank
- Thinkmoney
- TSB
- Ulster
- Virgin Money
Which banking services can you access at the Post Office?
You can access most banking services in the Post Office, including:
- Cash withdrawals
- Cash deposits
- Balance enquiries
- Cheques deposits
However, different banks enable different services, with some offering more than others. The table below summarises the personal banking services offered by each viable bank.
| Bank/Building Society | Cash Withdrawal (via debit card) | Cash Deposit (via debit card/barcoded/deposit-only card) | Balance Enquiry (via debit card) | Cheque Deposit Envelope | Cash Deposit (via deposit slip) |
| Adam & Co | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Allied Irish Bank (GB) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AIB (NI) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bank of Ireland | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Bank of Scotland | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Barclays | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Cahoot | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Cashplus Bank | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Coutts | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Co-Op | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Danske | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | NI only | ✖ |
| First Direct | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Halifax | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Handelsbanken | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| HSBC | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Lloyds | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Nationwide | ✔ | ✖ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| NatWest | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| RBS | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Santander | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Smile | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ |
| Starling Bank | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✖ | ✖ |
| Thinkmoney | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (deposit slip not required in cheque deposit envelope) | ✖ |
| TSB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ulster | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Virgin Money | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ (for sort codes starting with "82" or "05") | ✔ (for sort codes starting with "82" or "05") |
(Source: Post Office)
When can you use the Post Office for banking?
You can use the Post Office to access your bank account at any time or day that your chosen Post Office branch is open. This includes evenings and Sundays, subject to availability.
What do you need to access your bank account at the Post Office?
In order to access your bank account at the Post Office, you will need the following:
- To withdraw money, check your balance or deposit cash - your card and PIN
- To deposit cash - your card or pre-printed paying in slip
- To pay in a cheque - a pre-printed paying in slip
- To make a cheque deposit - a branded envelope
More on the Post Office
The Post Office announced some significant changes for account holders last year, including a ban on deposits into Post Office savings accounts from 1 March 2022, which you can read more about here. You can also check out our independent review of the Post Office Money Classic credit card and Post Office travel insurance.
