Post Office Card Account

The Post Office Card Account (POCA) was launched in April 2003.

In January 2006, it became apparent that the DWP would not be renewing the contract with Post Office Ltd, all but signalling an end to the POCA in its current form. The DWP subsequently undertook a procurement exercise for a successor to the POCA – the Government Card Account Banking Service.

In a statement to the House on 13 November 2008, the Government decided to cancel the procurement exercise and award the new contract to Post Office Ltd to run initially from April 2010 and March 2015.