Access to financial services across the UK
Having access to bank branches, cash machines and cashback from shops can be essential for people with mental health problems. Using cash helps some people budget and stay in control of their spending when unwell. Others experience anxiety when using the phone, and so the opportunity to speak to someone face to face at a bank branch can be crucial. (1)
However, access to financial services varies greatly across the UK. For example, 60% of the population in Northern Ireland are within 1 kilometre of a location where they can access banking services, compared to 81% in the North East of England.