CASH MACHINE CHARGES AND TREAT TO POCA "DOUBLE WHAMMY TO FINANCIAL INCLUSION"

Angus MP Mike Weir has condemned the actions of the major banks and the UK
government for delivering a "double whammy to financial inclusion" by allowing
the massive extension of fee paying cash machines whilst at the same time
threatening the future of the Post Office Card Account.

Commenting on new findings that show that more than one third of cash machines
are now fee paying and that customers are paying £1million a month to access
their own money Mr Weir said 

"It is an absolute scandal that banks are making record profits yet at the same
time customers are being fleeced by being charged for accessing their own money.
Worse still government policy in pushing payment of benefits and pensions into
bank accounts at a time when many banks have abandoned rural and deprived urban
areas mean that the less well off are being forced to use such machines, eating
into their already inadequate income."

Mr Weir warned that the result of these actions would be an increase in
financial exclusion.

"Coupled with the threat to the Post Office Card Account, which is the only
alternative in most areas, they are delivering a double whammy to financial
inclusion."   

"The government must act now to reverse their policy on the Post Office Card
Account and press the banks to ensure that everyone has free access to their own
money. It is high time that they spent less time worrying about squeezing money
out of rich donors and more time worrying about the squeeze their policies are
putting on those on low incomes."