As of 7 May, 50 hubs have been opened in partnership between Cash Access UK and the Post Office. 121 Banking Hubs have now been announced by LINK with further openings planned for later this year.
How Banking Hubs operate
Banking Hubs feature a counter service operated by the Post Office, allowing customers of any bank to withdraw and deposit cash, settle bills, and conduct routine banking transactions. Furthermore, each Hub has a private area where customers can consult with community bankers from their respective banks for more complex matters that necessitate specialized knowledge or confidentiality. The banks participating in each Hub operate on a rotational basis, ensuring the presence of staff from different banks on varying days.
Banking Hubs were originally trialled as part of the Community Access to Cash Pilots when two Banking Hubs were established in Cambuslang (South Lanarkshire) and Rochford (Essex). This was part of a wider initiative to help local communities, often where the local branch had closed, to be able to spend cash as well as making it easier for small businesses to bank cash too. Following the successful pilots, in December 2021, the banking industry committed to maintaining basic access to cash in communities following the closure of the final bank branch in that location.
How the Hubs are recommended
The Hubs are recommended by LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, who independently review a community based on criteria including number of shops, transport links and deprivation. LINK will assess an area following confirmation of a bank closure or through a community request.
Recommendations are then delivered by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit organisation, who were established at the beginning of 2023, and is owned and funded by nine major banks. From the day a Hub is recommended it typically takes around 12 months to open. In locations where it proves difficult to find a suitable property, Cash Access UK can open Temporary Hubs, providing all the same services and by the same team. This gives more time to secure a permanent home for the Hub and crucially gives that community access to important services without a need to travel.
The 50th Banking Hub has been established as a temporary hub at Hometown Hub, 11 Exchange Street, Jedburgh following confirmation in June last year that the final bank branch in the town was closing. The temporary Banking Hub will provide locals with basic banking and cash services, while plans for the permanent Hub continue to progress. Customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions at a counter service operated by the Post Office, Monday-Friday 9am-5pm. Community Bankers are also available, so customers can talk to their bank about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the Hub.
If you would like to know more about the Banking Hubs please contact: cashaccessuk@cicero-group.com.