Temporary banking hub opens in Keynsham

A TEMPORARY banking hub for Keynsham has opened in MakeSpace on Riverside Square, opposite the leisure centre.

Customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions on weekdays from 9am to 5pm, including cash withdrawals and deposits, as well as checking balances or paying bills.

Additionally, the hub also offers a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank in a private space about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the hub.

Although there is currently no community banker on Mondays, one from the Halifax will be available from May 14. The other banks providing services at the hub are NatWest (Tuesday), Lloyds (Wednesday), HSBC (Thursday) and Barclays (Friday).

The hub has been set up by Cash Access UK, an organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK.
It said: “While the hub in Keynsham is up and running, Cash Access UK can confirm it is currently working to secure a long-term home for the banking hub which will offer the same services.”

Keynsham was recommended a banking hub following the announcement of the closure of the town’s final bank branch, the Halifax. It was originally scheduled to close in January but this was delayed until May 14 to allow for the banking hub to be set up.

Cash Access UK states: “Cash is still important to millions of people in the UK. Between five and six million adults say they rely on cash in their day-to-day lives.

“Digital or online solutions don’t yet work for everyone all the time. We’ve found that banking hubs can make a real difference to individuals, small businesses and the communities they live in.”

Cash Access UK is a not-for-profit company owned and funded by major banks, including AIB NI, Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.