Acocks Green Post Office offers new current accounts

The Post Office is extending its current accountsoffering to 81 branches in the East Midlands and East of England. The move follows the introduction of the Control, Standard and Packaged accounts in 29 branches in East Anglia in May 2013. The introduction of the new region will bring the total branches to 110 and includes Sutton Coldfield, Kingsbury Road, Acocks Green, Rookery Road, Kingstanding, Northfield, Moseley and Corporation Street branches.


The Post Office offers three accounts. 

Standard Account

The Standard Account comes with a debit card and is the Post Office’s ‘free in credit’ everyday banking offering.

• It will appeal to those who want all the convenience of an everyday current account with a straightforward, easy-to-understand approach to banking fees and no hidden charges or unexpected surprises.
• It offers unrivalled access to banking services and transactions, all from an organisation customers know they can trust to treat them well.
• Accounts can be set-up with an opening deposit of £100.
• Standard Account customers can request a chequebook and can apply for an overdraft facility either when opening the account or anytime afterwards. Overdraft interest rate is currently 14.9% EAR. There are no unarranged borrowing charges.

Packaged Account

The Packaged Account is an ‘added value’ offering and provides a compelling range of additional benefits for a competitive monthly fee of just £8. 

• It is designed for the growing group of customers who enjoy benefits such as European Multi-Trip Family Travel Insurance and Vehicle Breakdown Cover.
• It will also provide Identity Theft Protection services and the convenience and guaranteed savings of a discounted Post Office Travel Booking Service that offers up to 7.5% discount on a variety of holidays and travel needs.
• Packaged Account customers can request a chequebook and can apply for an overdraft facility either when opening the account or anytime afterwards. Overdraft interest rate is currently 14.9% EAR. There are no unarranged borrowing charges.

Control Account

The Control Account helps customers to keep in control of their finances and is a fully functional, ‘inclusive’ bank account for those who are new to banking, potentially on lower incomes or who have had difficulty with default bank charges in the past.

• For a fixed monthly fee of £5, no further charges will be made for payments that are returned unpaid such as direct debits and standing orders.
• It offers customers the certainty of knowing how much their banking will cost them without any unexpected surprises. 
• The Control Account aims to deliver banking services in a way that removes the risk of missed payment charges and saves less affluent customers money overall.
• To open the Control Account customers will need a minimum opening deposit of £20.
• The Control Account offers a full banking service proposition to customers – branch banking, nationwide ATM access, online banking (including funds transfers and bill payments), telephone banking, Direct Debits and standing orders.

Saving you money

Our Control Account could save you money. Customers who have incurred a bank charge are highly likely to then incur more, averaging at £205 per year. In 2011 over 6.6 million people incurred bank charges of more than £100. That’s why we believe that just £5 per month could be a much better deal for you. Plus you could benefit from savings on your utility bills by paying by Direct Debit.

Customers in East Midlands and East of England wishing to open an account will be able to pop into their local branch to talk through their options with specially trained staff,  who will be on hand to discuss the types of accounts on offer and which one will suit their individual needs best. They will also be able to assist with the completion of the application form as well as transferring direct debits.

Customers who are unable to visit a participating branch in East Midlands or East of England can register their interest in a Post Office current account by going online at www.postoffice.co.uk/currentaccounts/register 

Incidentally, there's still no update on the plans to relocate the Crown Office in Acocks Green into a new partner store. I understand that it is unlikely to happen before the start of the new financial year in April. 

Update on Acocks Green Post Office

There is a little bit more news on this. The Post Office report that they hope to have a new franchisee in place by the end of this financial year (April 2014), subject to consultation. There's no news as yet on the identity of the franchisee or the location, but I doubt that will be far away.

More as I get it.....

Update on Acocks Green Post Office

The Post Office have issued their proposals for changes in Kings Heath - the branch there is to be relocated into their WH Smiths. 

There are no current proposals for Acocks Green, so at the moment, there is no change planned. 

Post office news updated

The BBC have a rather more balanced piece here, which is clearer.

The Post Office are seeking to relocate Acocks Green post office into another local retailer as a franchised office. This would, it can be assumed, then result in the closure of the existing site.

However, they are clear that if a partner cannot be found, then the current post office will be maintained.

There will be a 6 week consultation prior to any move and while people will not be able to object to the principle of the closure/relocation, you will have an opportunity to object to the new location on the grounds of practical issues like parking, etc.

This is slightly more reassuring than the original spin, but will still require close monitoring and might mean another unoccupied store front in Acocks Green, which is never a good thing.

Acocks Green Post Office at risk?

A rather worrying article here which mentions the future of Acocks Green Post Office.

The headline suggests closure may be a risk if the Post Office cannot find a commercial partner, but further down the article, it says that if no partner can be found, the office will remain.

I'll try to find out more information on this, but it is a worrying development.