Successes

• For the first time in 10 years of active CCBS campaigning against local branch closures there has been a network increase by the Big Four, albeit modest and temporary. Only 33 community branches were lost in statistical year 2007, by far the lowest in more than a decade of cuts by traditional banks, a declining trend but averaging more than 200 a year. However, pressures on bank profits from many domestic and international seismic events caution against complacency when 1000 vulnerable communities have only one bank remaining. www.communitybanking.org.uk/reports.htm
• Our successive representations to Banking Code Reviews have resulted in 12 weeks notice for ALL branch closures and material cuts in opening hours thus allowing time for concerted opposition; double that for 'consultations' on post office closures.
• In launching 'One Solution' at the House of Commons, there is now readily available to the public, politicians, journalists and other influencers a concise, readable publication setting out our solutions to local bank and post office closures and incorporating an attractive cost saving business model to interest the banks at a time of pressure on their profits.www.communitybanking.org.uk/reports/htm

More Work Needed
Having worked hard for a Treasury Committee recommendation (Nov 2006) on shared branching as an aid to financial inclusion, and seen a commitment (April 2007) from the Treasury's Financial Inclusion Taskforce to consider it, we do not intend to accept lying down the Taskforce's reluctance to fulfill its obligation.

Similarly, by highlighting the considerable savings in carbon emissions that adoption of shared branching could yield we are determined to raise the profile of this issue, in collaboration with environmental groups, and challenge the dismissive stance of the two major banks, HSBC and Lloyds TSB, specifically consulted.

Small businesses have been badly let down by the OFT/Competition Commission and the Banking Code Review in the admitted need to increase awareness of Inter Bank Agency Agreements (IBAAs) which enable use of a local bank's counter by other banks' customers, thus helping to keep remaining banks open. www.communitybanking.org.uk/reports.htm

Working with Supporters
During the year we have continued our policy of liaising with supporting organisations on issues of mutual interest and wish to acknowledge co-operation with Help the Aged (Lifetime Neighbourhoods), Which? (OFT Personal Current Accounts), Campaign for Better Transport (Carbon Emissions) and NEF (Post Offices).

Special thanks are due to Which?, Federation of Small Businesses and Help the Aged for their contribution to the production, House of Commons launch and circulation of ‘One Solution’.

Additionally………………………
During the year CCBS has:

• Made representations to the FSA on the efficiency of the Banking Code review process.
• Briefed major banking consultancies on the financial and operating benefits to their banking clients of the shared branching models.
• Participated in the Financial Services Research Forum and other gatherings of banking and financial services professionals and consumer bodies

The Year Ahead
The year ahead is one of challenge and opportunity.  Against a background of global banking turmoil and a stalling UK economy, we are facing the fallout from banking mergers (Lloyds TSB/HBOS and Abbey/ Alliance & Leicester/ Bradford & Bingley and an imperative on banks to reduce delivery costs, including branches, as OFT investigations into bank charges and payment protection insurance hits revenue at a time of lower sales and higher bad debts.

CCBS will continue to support individual communities facing branch closure, reduced opening hours and removal of free ATMs.

In a year which precedes a General Election we will be active, on our own and with partners, to gain industry and political recognition of the damage bank closures cause to communities and the vulnerable whilst pursuing every route to secure implementation of  the neutral shared branching alternative to branch closures.

Support
24 national organisations support and fund the Campaign, representing the interests of the elderly, disabled people, small businesses, consumers, bank employees, credit unions, rural and urban communities, the environment, ethnic minorities and the poverty lobby.  The Campaign’s policy is governed by an active and involved steering group of 6, drawn from these sectors.

Website
The Campaign website www.communitybanking.org.uk continues to be popular with journalists, researchers, government agencies as well as communities facing closure threats who are offered specific advice.

Services

• Supporting organisations receive a monthly media monitoring report.
• Input is available to supporting organisations’ discussions, conferences and research where relevant.
• Tailored articles for house journals can be made available.

Enquiries

The Campaign’s regularly updated website is at www.communitybanking.org.uk

24 September 2008