Stapleford MP Darren Henry has secured a Banking Hub for the Town which will ensure that local residents have easier access to banking services.
Having met with LINK last October, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, Darren pressed for Stapleford to be considered for a Banking Hub via the organisation’s community request scheme. Following a subsequent meeting in late 2022 and a site visit by LINK, he has been delighted to announce that the Town will now benefit from this great new initiative which seeks to secure the long-term security and viability of high street banking and protect access to cash for vulnerable customers.
Back in 2021, the banking industry reached an agreement that means following any bank branch closures, LINK will identify if a particular community is deemed in need of additional cash services. Furthermore, any community without a branch can contact LINK directly and ask to be assessed for support. As a result of the closure of all high street banks in Stapleford and the closure of the Town Centre Post Office Branch, Darren contacted LINK who have subsequently recommended a Banking Hub.
Banking Hubs operate as a shared banking space, akin to a normal bank branch, except that they available to everyone. The hub will be comprised of a main counter service operated by Post Office employees, offering customers of any bank to ability to withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and to carry out other banking transactions. Additionally, there will be private spaces provided for customers to speak with community bankers from their own bank for more complex issues that require specialist knowledge or privacy. The banks will work on a rotational basis, so there will be staff on hand from different banks available on designated days.
There are currently four Banking Hubs operational across the UK. The new Banking Hub will be delivered by Cash Access UK. Over the next few weeks, there will be engagement with the local community to start looking for potential sites.
Darren Henry MP commented: “Since the loss of the main high street banks from the Town Centre and the subsequent closure of the Post Office last summer, Stapleford has been left without banking services and no easy access to post office provision. Since writing to the Post Office to oppose the closure at the time, I have been working hard to secure a solution to this issue and to get these vitally important services restored in the town.
