PEOPLE hit by bank closures have been urged to use banking services now available at their local post office.

A deal has been reached between the Post Office and all the major banks as well as many of the smaller ones

It came into effect last month and means bank customers can now carry out routine transactions like withdrawing and depositing cash and collect payments at most local post offices.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak – whose constituency has been hit by proposed bank closures – said 30 POs in his area now offered banking services

He said: "This deal offers many of my constituents the opportunity to do day-to-day banking closer to home and by doing so help to preserve the post office network."

Before the General Election was called he had been due to meet HSBC bosses about their plans to close branches at Leyburn and Stokesley and has already met Yorkshire Bank to discuss the proposed closure of its Richmond branch.

He added: "It is important that bank customers continue to use the branch network because if they don't that in itself will lead to more branch closures. But it is good to know that this facility is now widely available, particular for those people affected by the recent closures."

The local post office branches now offering the service include the recently re-opened branch at Appleton Wiske which Mr Sunak supported by lobbying the Post Office.