Bank Hub Now Open
Three town centre banks that had a presence on the high street until recently will return to the high street as plans for a banking hub have now materialised.
A new permanent banking hub will open at 96 High Street, the former premises that housed the Clydesdale Bank, it has been confirmed.
Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, will open a temporary banking hub in the meantime at Moray Firth Credit Union, offering access to banking services, while plans for the permanent hub continue to make headway.
The temporary hub will open next week on Wednesday 20 September and hours will be Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm, and will remain in place available until the new permanent Banking Hub opens.
The temporary Banking Hub offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions every day of the week. It also offers a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues.
Community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week:
- Monday: Bank of Scotland
- Tuesday: Royal Bank of Scotland
- Wednesday: Santander
- Thursday: TSB
Cash Access UK is committed to delivering a permanent Banking Hub in Forres and, in a significant step forward the location for the new permanent Hub has now been confirmed, this will be located at 96 High Street, Forres. The team at Cash Access UK are now working hard to get the new premises ready.
Everyday cash and banking services
Gareth Oakley, CEO, Cash Access UK: “While we work to open the permanent banking hub, I’m pleased to confirm we’ve opened a temporary hub in Forres which will help local people and businesses with everyday cash and banking services. There are already three Hubs up and running across Scotland that are making a huge difference, I know the temporary and forthcoming permanent Hub will be just as popular.”
Ross Borkett, Head of Banking at Post Office: “It’s great news that there will be a temporary banking hub in Forres whilst we continue to work with Cash Access UK to open the permanent solution. I want to specifically thank the local Postmaster Paul McBain who will be delivering the hub in Forres, ensuring local businesses will have somewhere convenient to deposit their cash takings and maximise the time they spend trading. Operating this fourth Banking Hub in Scotland marks the further expansion of our role in safeguarding a secure and sustainable future for cash in partnership with the banking industry.”
Douglas Ross, MP for Moray: “This is a terrific victory for local campaigners who have rightly called for local banking services in Forres. I shared the widespread frustration among the local community following bank closures in the town which has ultimately left Forres with no bank. Ever since I have been determined to find a positive solution and I am delighted that it is now coming to fruition.
I have been pleased to work alongside the Post Office, Cash Access UK and others to ensure we found the right banking hub for residents in Forres. I am sure both the opening of the temporary hub – and confirmation of a permanent banking hub in the town – will be warmly welcomed by people and businesses in the area and I am looking forward to seeing the hub in operation.”
Richard Lochhead, MSP For Moray: “I’m delighted to hear that a temporary banking hub is opening in the Credit Union whilst work progresses on the opening of a permanent hub for Forres. There’s a huge amount of support for the hub within the local community and people are looking forward to being able to access banking services on their doorstep once again. This cooperation with the Credit Union is to be welcomed and I look forward to the permanent hub opening its doors in the near future.”