Major banks face being fined in the event that they fail to offer free entry to money withdrawals inside three miles of customers and companies beneath new guidelines to be set out by ministers.

Sky News has learnt that the Treasury is to publish tips inside days setting out expectations for banks' future provision of money deposit and withdrawal providers.

One supply briefed on the plans stated the City minister, Andrew Griffith, would make a coverage assertion constructing on a authorities announcement in May final yr.

Under the brand new guidelines, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) may have powers to high-quality banks that fail to offer free entry to money.

Personal present account-holders wouldn't be allowed to face hidden price fees for withdrawing money beneath the principles.

Millions of individuals proceed to depend on money, whilst Britain's funds trade turns into more and more dominated by digital providers.

The closure of hundreds of financial institution branches for the reason that 2008 monetary disaster has stoked fears that these in susceptible teams face being reduce adrift with out assured money entry.

In current years quite a few pilot schemes have been launched to offer shared entry to banking hubs for patrons of various banks.

Mr Griffith is known to have visited one in all these in Brixham, Devon, earlier this week.

It was unclear how the brand new three-mile rule would apply to rural communities throughout the UK.

Nigel Farage, the previous UKIP chief whose remedy by NatWest subsidiary Coutts has sparked a political furore over "debanking", is known to have gathered a whole bunch of hundreds of signatures for a petition aimed toward halting the discount in money providers by banks.

The Treasury refused to reply to a number of requests for remark.