In 2013, Post Office Ltd introduced a range of current accounts on a trial basis, initially at a small number of branches in East Anglia. This trial was extended to over 200 branches across the UK in 2014. Three accounts were offered, a standard account with optional overdraft, a basic bank account and a packaged account offering travel insurance and breakdown cover. Although these accounts could only be opened at participating branches, they can be managed across the whole network and through online, telephone and mobile banking systems. As in the case of most other Post Office branded financial products, Post Office current accounts were provided by Bank of Ireland plc with Post Office Ltd acting as an appointed representative. Following review of services by Bank of Ireland plc, it was decided in March 2019 that new Post Office Money current accounts would no longer be able to be opened and all remaining accounts were closed on 11 September 2019.
Post Office Card Account
The Post Office Card Account is a cash handling account allowing customers to receive benefit payments. The Card Account cannot be accessed anywhere other than a Post Office Counter or ATM at a post office branch. These accounts can only receive Department for Work and Pensions benefit payments and HMRC Tax Credits and Child Benefit payments. Housing Benefit from a local authority for example, must be paid elsewhere. If the account remains dormant for one year, it is closed. These bank accounts are run by J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd on behalf of the Post Office. To open an account, you must be in receipt of benefits and a referral is made via Jobcentre Plus. New applications for a Post Office card account were closed on 11 May 2020, with existing accounts remaining open until the end of the current contract in November 2021.
Prepaid cards
The Post Office Money Card was a prepaid MasterCard that was available in Pound Sterling and was issued by R. Raphael & Sons plc. This card was withdrawn in January 2017. A Post Office Travel Money Card in a range of foreign currencies is also available, issued by First Rate Exchange Services Ltd.
Savings
The Post Office had long been an agent for National Savings and Investments, which was originally the Post Office Savings Bank but is now a wholly separate institution. From November 2011, only Premium Bonds could be bought in Post Offices, but the 156-year relationship ended in August 2015 when Premium Bonds became the final NS&I product to be withdrawn from sale at Post Office counters. Post Office Money now offers its own range of savings products, which are sometimes in competition with those offered by NS&I. The most recently introduced, in September 2008, is a Post Office ISA. Also on offer is an instant access account, while issues of two fixed term investments are periodically available. The Post Office are also a provider for the Child Trust Fund. Cash ISAs are administered by the Bank of Ireland, while online ISAs are administered the friendly society OneFamily.
Borrowing
Post Office Money offers mortgages and also offers personal loans, although the latter are now marketed purely through the company's website and not through the branch network. The first loans, provided by Bank of Ireland, launched in 2004. Post Office branded credit cards have also been introduced. Accounts opened before July 2019 were provided by Bank of Ireland UK and accounts opened after November 2019 are provided by Capital One.
