Access to cash Cash access services
The Act inserts new Part 8B, titled "Cash Access Services", into FSMA 2000. Part 8B applies to credit institutions which are authorised under Part 4A. The FCA therefore already regulates the carrying on of regulated activities by these credit institutions. In September 2020, the FCA issued guidance setting out considerations that these firms should take into account when planning the closure of a branch or ATM, or conversion of a free-to-use ATM to pay-to-use. This guidance was underpinned by Principles 6 and 7 of the FCA’s "Principles for Business."
	The new Part 8B of FSMA 2000 provides the FCA with a bespoke rule making and directions power to further advance the aim of protecting access to cash for UK customers, through seeking to ensure the continued reasonable provision of cash withdrawal and deposit facilities; this includes reasonable provision of free cash access services for relevant personal current accounts.