While banking services are becoming increasingly digitised, legislators, consumer groups and providers recognise the need for continued access to cash for some consumers and small businesses. Cash Access UK Limited, a new not-for-profit company established by our joint clients, all major high street banking providers, was created to deliver on this need. Its role is to establish shared banking hubs in communities and develop other solutions to support cash banking services.

The creation of Cash Access UK Limited reflected a new and unique level of collaboration between lenders with a view to meeting the needs of local communities and small businesses against a backdrop of proposed legal and regulatory change. 

We were able to field a cross practice team that proactively worked with our clients to understand and support their respective needs and to propose practical and innovative solutions, with a view to quickly finding common ground amongst our clients and supporting them in creating this new strategic joint offering. Our work particularly showcased our expertise in governance, corporate joint ventures, commercial outsourcing, regulatory and compliance, competition, intellectual property, data protection, employment, and tax.

In a world where high street banking services are moving online, we were able to help the firms design and shape a model which allowed collaboration between them and established a framework to help protect cash access across the UK with a view to meeting the needs of their respective customers. This collaborative effort was recognised by being awarded with the In-House/Law Firm Collaboration of the Year award at the Legal Business Awards 2023. As of October 2025, Cash Access UK had delivered 186 banking hubs and 135 deposit services, demonstrating the tangible impact of this initiative.