The Scottish Grocers Federation has condemned the decision by National Savings & Investments to stop selling premium bonds through post offices. Premium Bonds have been sold in post offices since 1956 but NS&I says that most sales are now made online.
Chief executive Jane Platt said: “The majority of our customers already use direct channels to buy their premium bonds, so moving to 100% direct sales is a natural next step for NS&I.”
But Pete Cheema, chief executive of the SGF said: “The move to withdraw the sale of premium bonds is another nail in the coffin for sub-postmasters. One in five sales of premium bonds for last year came from over the counter.”
A spokesperson for the National Federation of Subpostmasters said: “This is very disappointing news, particularly for our elderly and more vulnerable customers who rely on face-to-face support from subpostmasters with handling these transactions.”
