KEYNSHAM’S banking hub has opened in its permanent new home in the High Street.
Andy Wait, chair of Keynsham Town Council, cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony.
A spokesperson for the town council – which has worked with Cash Access UK and Bath & North East Somerset Council to support the project – said: “A huge thank-you to everyone involved in bringing this valuable service to life. We’re delighted to see the doors now open and ready to welcome residents.”
Based in the former Halifax branch at number 53, the hub is open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.
Customers of all major banks and building societies can access services from the counter.
They can pay in cash (notes and coins) and cheques, withdraw cash, check their balance, pay utility bills, and top up their gas and electricity. Registered businesses can access change-giving services.
Five banks also offer a community banker service one day per week, so their customers can speak in private about more complicated enquiries, such as payments and transfers, managing their account, and how to use online banking.
These services are available from the Halifax (Monday), NatWest (Tuesday), Lloyds (Wednesday), HSBC (Thursday) and Barclays (Friday).
Customers are advised that community bankers may be unavailable during lunchtime as they take a break.
The former Halifax branch, which was the town’s last remaining bank, closed in May this year. Since then, a temporary banking hub had been operating at MakeSpace, in Riverside Square, opposite the leisure centre. The temporary hub has now closed.
Banking hubs are owned by Cash Access UK and operated by the Post Office.
They provide banking services only, so shoppers cannot buy stamps, send a parcel, or do foreign exchange. The nearest Post Office to the Keynsham hub is in the One Stop convenience store directly opposite.
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.
