Banks providing wider access to basic accounts

20 November 2008

Welcoming the news that numbers of basic bank accounts had topped 7.4 million in the first half of this year, BBA Chief Executive Angela Knight said: "Banking services should be available to the widest possible range of people. By helping to provide basic accounts, the UK's banks are making an essential contribution to ensuring everyone who needs access to modern financial services can do so.

"Some 50,000 people a month are signing up to these services. They are the cornerstone of the banks' commitment to ensuring affordable banking services is available to all."