Payment collection specialist allpay will provide Bill Payment services to Lloyds Bank as part of the bank’s selection to the newly launched ESPO public sector banking framework. The launch of the framework comes at an opportune time for more than 100 local authorities following the Co-Operative Bank’s recent announcement that it will no longer be able to provide them with banking services as it looks to narrow its focus on retail and small business customers.

Lloyds has been selected alongside two other banks to offer a range of banking solutions as part of the framework, especially designed to help UK local authorities, central government, schools, social housing providers, police, NHS, and all other public sector organisations with their banking requirements.

The framework is made up of the three following lots:

• Lot 1 – General banking services
• Lot 2 – Merchant acquiring services
• Lot 3 – Bill payment systems

As part of its selection to the framework, Lloyds will supply all three lots – general banking services (Lot 1), merchant acquiring services (Lot 2) and bill payment services (Lot 3) through its strategic partnership with allpay. The partnership with allpay will see the bank able to provide both payment cards and barcoded billing solutions via both of the UK’s biggest cash collection networks PayPoint and Post Office, utilising the group’s unrivalled experience within the local government and housing association sector.

Pierre Galeon, Corporate and Commercial Director at allpay, said: “The ESPO framework is designed to make buying banking services easier for the public sector. Given the Co-operative Bank’s decision to withdraw from providing banking services, I have no doubt this framework will be effectively utilised by UK local authorities, allowing them to put in place robust and secure arrangements to suit their varied banking needs. The decision to extend the framework to Merchant Acquiring and Bill Payment services is to be welcomed with a number of local authorities looking at all of their banking arrangements following the Co-operative Bank’s exit.

“Having worked with Lloyds Bank for several years, we enjoy a good working relationship and are delighted to be providing Bill Payment services to the group as part of this framework. We look forward to providing a high quality, cost effective service that promotes financial inclusion and maximises income collection.”