A bank account enables prison leavers to access employment, accommodation and welfare payments.
Prisons that join the programme are officially partnered with one of seven banking providers that have volunteered to take part: Barclays, the Co-operative Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Group, Natwest Group, Santander, and Nationwide Building Society.
The programme enables those individuals who do not have an existing bank account and need one for use on release to apply for a basic bank account whilst in custody. Sentenced prisoners with no more than six months and no less than six weeks left until their release date are eligible for the Banking Programme.