A Bill to require banks to measure and disclose their performance in reducing financial exclusion, including exclusion from affordable credit, and in improving access to finance for small- and medium-sized businesses; to establish a system for rating banks according to that performance; to require banks to cooperate with credit unions and community development finance institutions to address financial exclusion and improve access to finance for small- and medium-sized businesses; and for connected purposes.
House of Commons
Gareth ThomasLabour (Co-op)
30 April 2026
May contain errors — check source documents for definitive information.
The Banks (Financial Exclusion and Access to Finance) Bill would require banks to measure and report on how well they reduce financial exclusion and improve access to finance for small and medium-sized businesses. It also proposes a system to rate banks based on that performance and would require banks to work with credit unions and community development finance institutions to tackle exclusion and expand affordable credit.
The bill is currently at the second reading in the House of Commons (introduced in January 2026). If it progresses, it would move to Committee Stage and then through the remaining readings before possible passage to the Lords.
Generated 21 February 2026
14 Jan 2026
The 2024-2026 session of Parliament has come to an end so the House of Commons is now prorogued until the next session begins on 13 May 2026. Prorogation is the formal end to the parliamentary year.
This Bill will therefore make no further progress.
No recorded votes for this bill yet.
