Cash Access UK has opened a temporary banking hub in Buckingham, allowing residents to access banking services inside the town’s library.
The hub, which opened for business this week, will be succeeded by a permanent facility in the town and was established on the behalf of residents by Buckingham and Villages Community Board alongside Cash Access UK.
In its current temporary form, the hub provides a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers can carry out in-person transactions.
It also offers a community banker service, with representatives from different banks and building societies working on rotation, with a different provider available on each day of the week to give advice and talk through complicated issues.
The current rotation for the temporary Buckingham hub is as follows:
Tuesday – Natwest
Wednesday – Nationwide
Thursday – Lloyds Banking Group
Friday – Barclays (coming soon)
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK, said the organisation was “committed to protecting nationwide access to cash”.
Many banking corporations have closed their branches in Bucks over the past year, with Natwest, Lloyds and Barclays all appearing to phase out their high street presences in favour of digital services.
However, there has been significant backlash to the shift, with many customers concerned that a lack of in-person options will negatively affect the vulnerable and elderly.
A survey carried out by Which? last month revealed that 52% of banking customers with disabilities feel that branch closures have negatively impacted their ability to access vital services.
Clive Harriss, Buckinghamshire Council’s cabinet member for culture and leisure, said: “I am really happy to see our library playing such an important part in ensuring that Buckingham residents have local access to banking services.”
Councillor Howard Mordue, Chairman of Buckingham and Villages Community Board added: “We hope this will make life easier for local people who want to withdraw cash easily and I’m delighted it is paving the way for a permanent facility in Buckingham.
“It’s a great example of how our community boards make a real difference on the ground by coordinating projects like this on behalf of local residents.”
The Buckingham banking hub is open Tuesday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:30pm.
Where would you like to see the next banking hub open in Bucks?
