Tackling financial exclusion through ‘jam jar' accounts (Social Finance) A report examined the commercial viability of new banking products that actively supported people to manage their money - reducing the risk of debt and bill payment arrears, and at the same time enabling access to lower-cost products and services through automated bill payments and online shopping.

Access to bank accounts through the Post Office (Consumer Focus) The consumer rights watchdog said that the Post Office had the potential to become a ‘neighbourhood bank' - offering access to bank accounts for all, regardless of provider, and improving access to face-to-face banking services.

Future of cheques (Treasury Select Committee) A report by a committee of MPs welcomed the ‘belated' decision of the Payments Council to retain cheques: but it warned the Council of the need to ensure that the banks did not attempt to abandon cheques by stealth, or deter customers from using cheques. It recommended that the Payments Council should be brought formally within the system of financial regulation.

In 2011, Finanztest has surveyed surveyed among 1.610 German credit institutions if they provide for an account free of charge and found only 74 accounts that do so (however, it has to be noted that the free of charge account must not necessarily be a "Girokonto für alle"). This survey has been published on February 7, 2012. More information can be found here: http://www.test.de/themen/geldanlage-banken/test/Girokonto-Deutschlands-Konten-im-Test-4320188-4328806/ and here: http://www.finanzwirtschafter.de/21185-finanztest-studie-viele-girokonten-noch-immer-zu-teuer/.