Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has received representations on banks closing customer accounts after applying for the coronavirus Bounce Back Loan scheme.

Treasury officials are in regular contact with the banking sector to solicit their feedback on BBLS, as well as all the other supporting measures implemented in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. As of 20th September, over 1.2 million facilities have been approved through BBLS representing a value of more than £38bn.

Decisions about what products are offered to specific businesses remain commercial decisions for banks and building societies, in which it would be inappropriate for the Government to intervene.

The Government believes that any dispute arising between banks and their customers is usually best resolved by the parties involved. If a customer wishes to pursue a complaint, their first recourse is through the bank's official customer complaints procedure. The Financial Conduct Authority requires banks to properly investigate all complaints and, through ongoing supervision, it continues to monitor the banks' complaint handling processes.

If a customer is not satisfied with their bank's response to their complaint, then they may wish to consider an approach to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS). The FOS provides a free, independent dispute resolution service for bank customers, including eligible small businesses.