The first shared bank branches are to open before Christmas as part of a trial to improve access to cash in communities with few or no financial outlets.
The Post Office will start operating shared banking hubs in empty high street shops that will offer counter services such as checking balances and paying in cash and cheques.
The largest banks will have the option of sending branch managers for meetings on different days of the week. For example, Lloyds could visit the hub on a Monday, HSBC on a Tuesday, Santander on a Wednesday and Barclays on a Thursday, and on Friday a charity could run a debt advice service.
Some hubs will have tablet devices to allow people who do not have access to
