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<p>The Government does not make estimates of the number of working people who do not
have access to bank accounts. However, in 2017, the FCA published the results of the
Financial Lives Survey which estimated that 1.3 million UK adults (3% of the UK adult
population) were unbanked, i.e. have no current account or alternative e-money account.
The Financial Lives Survey report contains further information on the characteristics
of the unbanked and their preferences to have a bank account. The FCA intend to repeat
the Financial Lives Survey on a regular basis in future.</p><p> </p><p>The Government
takes financial inclusion very seriously and is working to ensure everyone can have
access to financial services. With regards to those who are sleeping rough or are
homeless, the Government recognises that it can be difficult for such individuals
to access bank accounts due to their lack of permanent address.</p><p> </p><p>Under
the Payment Accounts Regulations 2015, the 9 largest UK current account providers
are required to offer fee-free basic bank accounts to consumers who are either unbanked
or who are not eligible for a standard current account. Regulation 23 specifically
states that consumers with no fixed address are to be considered eligible and in Regulation
18 specifies that firms must not discriminate against consumers by reason of their
place of residence.</p><p> </p><p>As these accounts are particularly suitable for
more vulnerable customers, Government encourages the banks who provide them to be
flexible with identification and verification checks, within the remit of the Joint
Money Laundering Steering Group (JMLSG) guidance. The JMLSG guidance encourages firms
to consider a wide range of evidence to prove identification and to act reasonably
where customers do not have more conventional forms of identification.</p><p> </p>
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