CCBS is pleased that the Treasury Select Committee has included recommendations with regard to branch sharing in its banking report of 30 July 2002, in particular the need to pilot branch sharing in communities that have already lost their banking provision and to introduce choice of banking provider at the access point as part of the availability of a wider range of services.

All of this could be accommodated in the neutral community bank principle which is the Campaign's "first choice format" for further experimentation.

CCBS' evidence is included in the report's Minutes of Evidence Appendix 7.

Notes for Editors
1. CCBS is a pressure group acting for 27 national organisations concerned about bank branch closure. Details can be found on our website: http://home.btclick.com/ccbs/index.htm
2. The report "Banking, Consumers and Small Businesses" is available for The Stationery Office www.parliament.uk/consumers/selcom/treashome.htm
3. CCBS' proposals for neutral low-cost shared branches - Community Banks plc - was validated in March 2001 by Professor Barry Howcroft of Loughborough University's Banking Centre and found to be operationally and financially feasible. Copies available from Federation of Small Businesses 0207 592 8100.
   
4. The BBA is currently piloting a limited form of branch sharing in 10 rural communities and the banks have been instructed to commission a national branch sharing feasibility study following the March 2002 Competition Commission Report.