A Community Bank for Wales

Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 2:25 pm on 18 June 2019.

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Photo of Russell George Russell George Conservative 2:25, 18 June 2019

Thank you for your answer, First Minister. In your manifesto to become First Minister, you set out proposals to support the development of a new Wales-only community bank, with branches open to customers for a face-to-face transaction service, before the end of this Assembly term. Now, the Economy, Infrastructure and Skills Committee has been doing some work in this area and, certainly, the evidence to date has suggested that it is a highly complicated process in terms of regulation to open a bank in the period, perhaps, that you've suggested in your manifesto to become First Minister. They've also talked about the complications of the large amount of public subsidy that would be required to deliver the bank as well. So can I ask you: when do you expect the first community banks to be open, where would you expect them to be located and how much public subsidy will be required to deliver your manifesto pledge?