News

LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, has today announced that eight communities across the UK will soon find it easier to access banking services thanks to new recommendations for banking hubs in the towns.

Following yesterday’s announcement of the closure of the town’s last bank branches, LINK has confirmed that Acomb in York (North Yorkshire), Alnwick (Northumberland), Keynsham (Somerset), Newland in Hull (East Yorkshire), Sherborne (Dorset), South Elmsall (West Yorkshire), Wetherby (West Yorkshire) and Whitby (North Yorkshire), will soon benefit from a new banking hub as part of a wider commitment to protect access to cash.

Banking hubs are a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone. The hub will consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions. In addition, there will be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy. The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.

To date, LINK has recommended 117 banking hubs. There are currently 37 banking hubs up and running in the UK.

The banking hubs will now be delivered by Cash Access UK. Over the next few weeks, it will begin to engage with the local communities in each of the eight areas and look for potential sites. The hubs will likely open in 12 months’ time.

Nick Quin, Head of Financial Inclusion, LINK: “We are pleased to recommend new banking hubs for these eight local communities who are seeing the closure of their town’s last bank branch. Many people are still reliant on cash and it is essential that we preserve access to cash for communities across the UK.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS: Spokespeople available upon request

About the LINK Scheme: The LINK Scheme is the UK’s Cash Access and ATM Network that connects virtually all the UK’s ATMs and provides communities with access to cash through services such as cashback at retailer’s tills and banking hubs. LINK’s role is to provide UK consumers with universal access to cash in a safe, convenient and rapid manner. A free LINK Cash Access App showing consumers their nearest free cash access location can be found at here. LINK has 33 Members that issue cards and deploy ATMs in the UK. LINK is a not-for-profit organisation and governed by an independent Board, which has a clearly defined public interest remit. www.link.co.uk

What is a banking hub?

A banking hub is a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch but available to everyone.  The hubs currently consist of a counter service that will be operated by Post Office staff, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments, and carry out regular banking transactions.  In addition, there will be private spaces where customers can speak to someone from their own bank about more complex issues. The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.

What services will the hubs provide?

Banking hubs will offer basic counter services, allowing people to withdraw cash, collect change, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries. Automated services for deposits and withdrawals may also be available. On alternating days, bank staff from specific banks will be available so people can speak to their own bank about problems or other banking issues they may need help with.

Which banks are involved?

All the main high street banks are part of this work – and many bank customers will be able to use the counter service at the hubs and get advice, support and information about banking matters. The banks involved are: 

• Bank of Ireland UK
• Barclays
• Danske Bank
• HSBC
• Lloyds Bank
• NatWest
• Santander
• TSB
• Virgin Money

Who will staff the banking hubs and how will they be sourced/trained?

Banks will ensure staff are available to work in the hubs on specific days of the week so people will be able to check when their own bank staff will be in the branch and can go in and speak to them. Anyone will be able to use the Post Office-staffed counter services any day that the hub is open.

People using the hubs will be able to speak to fully trained and experienced staff from each bank who will be able to provide support and banking advice.

Will the staff be able to help resolve problems and complaints?

Bank staff will be able to offer advice and support in the banking hubs and direct people to the departments that can sort out problems or resolve any complaints.

How do you decide which communities need a banking hub or cash services?

Establishing which communities need access to cash and what services are most suitable is not a just matter of demographics. Nor can need be defined by population numbers, given the diversity and location of rural communities to the country-specific needs of people in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

There are two ways for new hubs to be recommended. Whenever a participating bank or building society makes a change to its network (such as a branch closure or reduced opening hours) it notifies LINK in advance. LINK will then assess the location’s needs, looking at what other services are available locally, the size of the location (people and number of shops) and determine whether the community needs a new hub. The criteria that LINK uses have been developed and agreed after extensive consumer and small business group input and are operated independently of the banks.

In addition, a community can also request a review itself. LINK will then independently assess the needs of that community using the same criteria. Any community can ask for a review – the form is on LINK’s website.