Post Office Money

==Products and services==

==Products and services==

===Current accounts===

====Savings====

In 2013, Post Office Ltd introduced a range of [[Current account (balance of payments)|current account]]s 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/current-accounts|title = Current Accounts &#124; Post Office Money}}</ref> 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|Bank of Ireland (UK) plc]] with Post Office Ltd acting as an appointed representative. Following review of services by Bank of Ireland (UK) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/dam/jcr:e13a27cc-b530-4615-9725-3809c36418aa/current-account-closure-frequent-asked-questions.pdf|title=Current Accounts &#124; Post Office Money}}</ref>

===Post Office Card Account===

The Post Office Card Account (POCA) was a cash handling account allowing customers to receive benefit payments. The Card Account could not be accessed anywhere other than a Post Office Counter or ATM at a post office branch. These accounts could 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 accounts were run by [[J.P. Morgan in the United Kingdom|J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd]] on behalf of the Post Office. To open an account, you must have been 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 November 2022. At this point, recipients who are unable to open traditional bank accounts will be moved over to a new Payment Exception Service which will allow them to continue to receive benefits at [[PayPoint]] and Post Office outlets using a plastic card, text message or email voucher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/dwp-end-benefit-payments-post-office-card-accounts|title = DWP to end benefit payments to Post Office card accounts|date = 6 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/post-office-card-accounts-closure-extended-until-november-2022|title = Post Office card accounts closure extended until November 2022| date=11 August 2022 }}</ref>

===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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/money-card|title = Travel Money Card - Prepaid Currency Card &#124; Post Office®}}</ref> A Post Office Travel Money Card in a range of foreign currencies is also available, issued by First Rate Exchange Services Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card|title=Travel Money Card - Prepaid Currency Card &#124; Post Office®}}</ref>

===Savings===

The Post Office had long been an agent for [[National Savings and Investments]] (NS&I), 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/11698199/The-end-of-National-Savings-at-the-Post-Office.html |title=The end of National Savings at the Post Office |first=Kyle |last=Caldwell |work=The Telegraph |date=25 June 2015 |access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

The Post Office had long been an agent for [[National Savings and Investments]] (NS&I), 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/savings/11698199/The-end-of-National-Savings-at-the-Post-Office.html |title=The end of National Savings at the Post Office |first=Kyle |last=Caldwell |work=The Telegraph |date=25 June 2015 |access-date=7 August 2015}}</ref>

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 [[Individual Savings Account|ISA]].{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

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 [[Individual Savings Account|ISA]].{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}

===Borrowing===

====Borrowing====

Post Office Money offers [[mortgage loan|mortgages]] and also offers [[personal loan]]s, 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Post Office ready to deliver loan service |url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/finance/post-office-ready-to-deliver-loan-service-1-932977 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=29 March 2004 |access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>

Post Office Money offers [[mortgage loan|mortgages]] and also offers [[personal loan]]s, 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Post Office ready to deliver loan service |url=http://www.scotsman.com/business/finance/post-office-ready-to-deliver-loan-service-1-932977 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=29 March 2004 |access-date=5 October 2013}}</ref>

Post Office branded credit cards have also been introduced. Accounts opened before July 2019 were provided by Bank of Ireland UK and subsequently transferred to JaJa Finance <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card/boi | title=0% Credit Cards &#124; Apply for credit card online &#124; Post Office® }}</ref> and accounts opened after November 2019 are now provided by [[Capital One]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card|title = 0% Credit Cards &#124; Apply for credit card online &#124; Post Office®}}</ref>

Post Office branded credit cards have also been introduced. Accounts opened before July 2019 were provided by Bank of Ireland UK and subsequently transferred to JaJa Finance <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card/boi | title=0% Credit Cards &#124; Apply for credit card online &#124; Post Office® }}</ref> and accounts opened after November 2019 are now provided by [[Capital One]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/credit-card|title = 0% Credit Cards &#124; Apply for credit card online &#124; Post Office®}}</ref>

===Insurance===

====Insurance====

Post Office Money provides a number of branded insurance products for [[vehicle insurance|cars, vans and motorbikes]]; [[home insurance]] (buildings and/or contents); [[pet insurance]] and [[travel insurance]]. [[Life insurance]], over 50s life cover and lifestyle protection insurance are also available.

Post Office Money provides a number of branded insurance products for [[vehicle insurance|cars, vans and motorbikes]]; [[home insurance]] (buildings and/or contents); [[pet insurance]] and [[travel insurance]]. [[Life insurance]], over 50s life cover and lifestyle protection insurance are also available.

===Discontinued products===

====Current accounts====

In 2013, Post Office Ltd introduced a range of [[Current account (balance of payments)|current account]]s 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/current-accounts|title = Current Accounts &#124; Post Office Money}}</ref> 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|Bank of Ireland (UK) plc]] with Post Office Ltd acting as an appointed representative. Following review of services by Bank of Ireland (UK) 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.postoffice.co.uk/dam/jcr:e13a27cc-b530-4615-9725-3809c36418aa/current-account-closure-frequent-asked-questions.pdf|title=Current Accounts &#124; Post Office Money}}</ref>

====Post Office Card Account====

The Post Office Card Account (POCA) was a cash handling account allowing customers to receive benefit payments. The Card Account could not be accessed anywhere other than a Post Office Counter or ATM at a post office branch. These accounts could 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 accounts were run by [[J.P. Morgan in the United Kingdom|J.P. Morgan Europe Ltd]] on behalf of the Post Office. To open an account, you must have been 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 November 2022. At this point, recipients who are unable to open traditional bank accounts will be moved over to a new Payment Exception Service which will allow them to continue to receive benefits at [[PayPoint]] and Post Office outlets using a plastic card, text message or email voucher.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.publictechnology.net/articles/news/dwp-end-benefit-payments-post-office-card-accounts|title = DWP to end benefit payments to Post Office card accounts|date = 6 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/post-office-card-accounts-closure-extended-until-november-2022|title = Post Office card accounts closure extended until November 2022| date=11 August 2022 }}</ref>

====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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/money-card|title = Travel Money Card - Prepaid Currency Card &#124; Post Office®}}</ref> A Post Office Travel Money Card in a range of foreign currencies is also available, issued by First Rate Exchange Services Ltd.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.postoffice.co.uk/travel-money/card|title=Travel Money Card - Prepaid Currency Card &#124; Post Office®}}</ref>

==See also==

==See also==