Post Office Everyday Banking: What You Can Do

Last checked November 2026. Offers and rules change: confirm with the provider before you rely on them.

Customers of nearly every UK bank can take out cash, pay in cash and cheques and check a balance at a Post Office counter, using their usual bank card. Exactly which services you get depends on your bank, so check before relying on it for something important.

How it works

The Post Office is not your bank and does not hold your account. It acts as a counter service on behalf of the banks under an agreement called the Banking Framework, which around 30 banks and building societies have signed. The latest agreement runs until 2030.

That means the person behind the counter can handle cash and cheques for you, but cannot see your statement, discuss your account or sort out a problem with a payment. For that you still need your bank, by telephone, at a branch or through the community banker at a banking hub.

What you can do at the counter

Service	Available?	What you usually need
Take out cash	Nearly all banks; free for most personal accounts	Your debit card and PIN
Check your balance	Most banks	Your debit card and PIN
Pay in cash	Most banks, though not all	Your card, or a paying-in slip from your bank, depending on the bank
Pay in a cheque	Many banks, though not all	A personalised paying-in slip and a cheque deposit envelope from your bank

The Post Office publishes a bank-by-bank list of what is available on its everyday banking page. A small number of banks and building societies do not allow cash or cheque deposits this way. If you are not online, ring your bank or ask at the counter.

Taking out cash

Hand over or insert your card, say how much you want and enter your PIN on the keypad, just as at a shop till. The limit is set by your bank and your account's daily limit, not by the Post Office. A small branch may not always hold enough for a very large withdrawal, so ring ahead if you need a big sum.

Paying in cash

With most banks you hand over the cash with your card and the money reaches your account straight away. With some, you need a pre-printed paying-in slip from your bank instead, and the money takes longer to arrive because the slip travels to the bank. Ask your bank which applies and whether there is a limit on how much you can pay in.

Paying in a cheque

Ask your bank for a book of personalised paying-in slips and a supply of cheque deposit envelopes. Some Post Offices keep certain banks' envelopes, but not all.
Fill in the slip, and write your account number on the back of the cheque in case they are separated.
Put the cheque and slip in the envelope, seal it and hand it over the counter. Ask for a receipt.

The envelope is then sent to your bank, so a cheque paid in at the Post Office takes a few days longer to reach your account than one paid in at a branch. Never put cash in a cheque envelope.

Tip: order paying-in slips and envelopes before you need them. Ring the number on the back of your card and ask for both to be posted to you. It takes a week or so, which is a long time if a cheque is sitting on the mantelpiece.

What you cannot do

Open or close a bank account, or get a statement
Set up, change or cancel a standing order or Direct Debit
Transfer money between your accounts or to another person
Query a payment, report fraud or order a new card
Cash a cheque made out to you for notes on the spot. It has to be paid into your account

For these, use your bank's telephone service; see banking without the internet.

Staying safe at the counter

Shield the keypad when you enter your PIN, and never tell it to anyone, including staff.
Count your cash at the counter and put it away before you turn round.
Go at a quieter time if you can, and think about taking someone with you when withdrawing a larger amount.
If anyone has told you to withdraw cash and hand it over, or to keep the reason secret from staff, it is a scam. Tell the counter clerk. Post Office and bank staff are trained to spot this and can call the police for you. See spotting scams.

Watch out: Post Office opening hours vary a great deal. A main branch may be open six days a week, while a counter inside a village shop or a mobile van may call for only a few hours. Check the times before making a special journey, particularly if you rely on a bus pass or community transport to get there.

Common questions

Is there a charge for using the Post Office for banking?

For most personal accounts with the main banks, withdrawals, deposits and balance checks are free. A few banks charge for some services, and business accounts often have fees. Your bank can confirm.

Do I need an account with the Post Office?

No. You use your existing bank account and your existing card.

Can someone else collect cash for me?

Not with your card and PIN, which you must never share. Ask your bank about a third-party mandate or a carer's card, and see our guides to shopping for someone else and lasting power of attorney.

What if a deposit goes missing?

Keep your receipt and contact your bank first, as it holds the account. If the bank does not resolve it, you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Citizens Advice can also help. More guides are on our everyday banking page.