IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Money and Mental Health response to Treasury access to banking review
14 May 2026
Today (14 May) the Treasury has launched an independent review into access to banking, with a particular focus on protecting access to face‑to‑face banking across the UK.
This has been welcomed by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, the charity founded and chaired by Martin Lewis (MoneySavingExpert). The charity’s research has highlighted the importance of face to face banking support as part of efforts to ensure that financial services are accessible for people with mental health problems.
Helen Undy, Chief Executive of Money and Mental Health, is a member of the government’s Financial Inclusion Committee which helped shape the recent Financial Inclusion Strategy, and recently spoke in a Treasury Committee session about the need for action to make banking more accessible.
Responding to today’s announcement, Helen Undy, Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:
“This announcement is extremely welcome. For many of us with mental health problems, face to face banking services are hugely important in our day-to-day lives. It can make a big difference in helping people who struggle with online banking to get cash, budget and stay in control of their spending.
“But too many people find that their closest bank branch is miles away and inaccessible via public transport. And if you have a mental health problem, it can be an impossible task to get specialist support from your bank on the phone or online.
“We’ve consistently raised these issues with government and we’re delighted that the Treasury has responded and is taking this issue so seriously. This is also a great opportunity to consider how better, more accessible digital banking can be part of the solution alongside in-person services.”
ENDS
Contact:
For media enquiries, please contact Alex Goodfellow, External Affairs Officer at Money and Mental Health, on 07754 446272 or [email protected]
Notes to Editors
About the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute
The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is an independent charity set up by Martin Lewis, and committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. We conduct research, develop practical policy solutions and work in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works. www.moneyandmentalhealth.org.