wrote:
On Thursday, 15 August 2019 09:18:00 UTC+1, NY wrote:
Does the Post Office actually act as a "virtual branch" of all the various
banks,

only up to a point:

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/everydaybanking

When I went to pay in a cheque to my NatWest
account via the advertised Post Office service, all they did was give me a
NatWest paying-in envelope which they would send to NatWest, rather than
actually crediting the money to my account. So there was no advantage in
doing it that way.

Except saving you the cost of posting the cheque yourself

Though if I am there I will often draw some cash anyway.
Small village counter in the village shop operation so rarely have to
queue for too long except Christmas lead up when some old dear is usually
trying to send a parcel of socks to a nephew who is doing voluntary work
in some third world country but she can only remember what it used to
called in the days of empire.

For a small businesses and others that still accumulate it they also
offer a way of paying in cash that could save a considerable round trip to
a bank branch.
Not having done it I dont know if there is the same delay in funds
reaching the destination account.

GH