Chancellor Rachel Reeves and economic secretary Tulip Siddiq have opened the UK’s 100th banking hub in Darwen, Lancashire, which has been set up following bank branch closures in the town.
Banking hubs give people access to face-to-face everyday banking services, such as withdrawing cash and depositing cheques, and are operated by multiple banking brands.
The Labour government has pledged to open 350 banking hubs by 2029.
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More than 6,000 banks and building societies have closed their doors since January 2015, according to consumer group Which?.
NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Barclays are just some of the banks that have shut branches this year.
Banking hubs are owned by Cash Access UK and operated by the Post Office. They are open Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. Customers can also check their balance, pay utility bills and top up their gas and electricity.
Community bankers from each of the five banks with the largest number of customers in the area come in one day a week to assist their customers with more complex banking issues like debt advice, bereavement services and fraud support.
In the Darwen banking hub, the participating banks are NatWest, Santander, Lloyds, Halifax and Barclays – the banks with the most customers in that location. According to the Treasury, opening the banking hub will protect access to cash and banking services for 10,000 local residents and 150 shops within one kilometre of Darwen town centre.
The Treasury said “the roll out of banking hubs will be a significant boost for local people and businesses, helping to revitalise the local high street and raise living standards across the UK”.
Reeves adds: “Reaching this milestone of 100 banking hubs is a huge step towards making sure that people across the country have access to essential face-to-face banking services.”
A total of 230 hubs are expected to be open by the end of next year.
Research from Cash Access UK shows that having a banking hub in a town can increase footfall, with residents visiting the town more regularly and staying for longer.
Gareth Oakley, CEO of Cash Access UK, comments: “Access to cash and face-to-face banking services remain vital to millions of people and businesses who rely on it. We’re delighted that banking hubs, alongside deposit services, are proving to be successful and are making a real difference to communities and high streets up and down the country.”
If you don’t have a banking hub near you, and your local bank or building society branch has closed, you may be able to use a Post Office to do day-to-day banking.
Is there a banking hub near you?
Here’s a list of banking hubs across the UK:
England
Belper
Buckingham
Cheadle
Clay Cross
Kirkby In Ashfield
Lutterworth
Mablethorpe
Market Rasen
Oakham
Pershore
Shirebrook
Stapleford
Stone
Syston
Barnoldswick
Barton-Upon-Humber
Batley
Cottingham
Elland
Filey
Hessle
Hornsea
Knaresborough
New Rossington
Newton Aycliffe
Ossett England
Otley
Richmond
Seaham
Thorne
Wath upon Dearne
Withernsea
Yeadon
Bramhall
Darwen
Great Harwood
Heywood
Horwich
Maryport
Moreton
Prescot
Ramsbottom
Stalybridge
Ulverston
West Kirby
Westhoughton
Acton
Ampthill
Bury Park
Downham Market
Enfield North
Harleston
Harpenden
Haslemere
Hatfield
Haverhill
Rochford
Royston
Shoreham-by-Sea
Ware
Watton
Welling
West Drayton
Axminster
Bodmin
Brixham
Calne
Dartmouth
Dawlish
Helston
Looe
Royal Wootton Bassett
Saltash
Sidmouth
Teignmouth
Wellington
Northern Ireland
Kilkeel
Newcastle
Portrush
Warrenpoint
Scotland
Auchterarder
Brechin
Cambuslang
Carluke
Carnoustie
Crieff
Cumnock
Forres
Girvan
Huntly
Jedburgh
Kilwinning
Kirkcudbright
Troon
Wales
Abergele
Abertillery
Morriston
Porthcawl
Prestatyn
Treorchy
Welshpool