OFT recently published a review of entry, expansion, and exit barriers in retail banking. OFT launched the study in May 2010 to identify obstacles blocking firms from entering the sector or from successfully competing against existing firms, as well as factors preventing inefficient firms from exiting the market and being replaced by more efficient ones. The review found that new entrants to the retail banking sector face significant challenges in attracting customers and expanding their market shares.

A press release describing OFT’s study can be found here, and the review itself can be found here.