Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, is opening a new temporary Banking Hub in Forres.
Opening on 20 September, it will be located within the Moray Firth Credit Union on the High Street, but will operate independently. It will open from Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 4.30pm.
The hub will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions every day of the week. It also offers a community banker service, where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues.
Community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week:
- Monday: Bank of Scotland.
- Tuesday: Royal Bank of Scotland.
- Wednesday: To be confirmed.
- Thursday: TSB.
- Friday: To be confirmed.
Cash Access UK has also confirmed that a permanent hub will located at 96 High Street in Forres, although an opening date for that was not given.
Ross Borkett, head of banking at thePost Office, said: “It’s great news that there will be a temporary banking hub in Forres whilst we continue to work with Cash Access UK to open the permanent solution.
“I want to specifically thank the local postmaster Paul McBain who will be delivering the hub in Forres, ensuring local businesses will have somewhere convenient to deposit their cash takings and maximise the time they spend trading.”
Douglas Ross, MP for Moray, commented: “This is a terrific victory for local campaigners who have rightly called for local banking services in Forres.
“I shared the widespread frustration among the local community following bank closures in the town which has ultimately left Forres with no bank.”
Richard Lochhead, MSP For Moray, added: “There’s a huge amount of support for the hub within the local community and people are looking forward to being able to access banking services on their doorstep once again.
“This cooperation with the Credit Union is to be welcomed and I look forward to the permanent hub opening its doors in the near future.”
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