Moray Firth Credit Union likely to host Forres banking hub on behalf of Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland and TSB for the rest of 2023
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FORRES’ banking hub opened in its temporary home at 53 High Street last week.
Moray Firth Credit Union (MFCU) is hosting the facility until its permanent address at the former Clydesdale Bank – 96 High Street – is ready.
MFCU chairwoman Lorna Creswell is happy to welcome more banking customers than usual.
She said: “It’s good to see folk coming in, including High Street businesses with deposits who previously had no idea about the credit union’s purpose! We have agreed to host the hub for three months but it could be month-by-month after that depending on the Clydesdale refurbishment.”
The temporary hub is open from 9.30am-4.30pm, Monday to Friday. It offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of major banks and building societies can carry out cash transactions. Community bankers are also available to help customers talk to banks about more complicated issues. Working on rotation with a different bank or building society each day, the bankers will focus on Bank of Scotland customers on Mondays, Royal Bank of Scotland customers on Tuesdays and TSB customers on Thursdays.
Ms Creswell said: “We met with senior managers, bank managers and Post Office staff to go over evacuation procedures and for them to familiarise with the premises. Santander was available to meet with customers that day too. It was also busy on Thursday but we don’t have any banks using the space on Fridays yet.”
Cash Access UK, an organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, is behind the new hub.
Forres Post Office postmaster Paul McBain helped to set the facility, one of only four currently open in Scotland.
He said: “The temporary site at Moray Firth Credit Union will move to the old Clydesdale Bank building in early 2024.
“The Post Office provides cash and banking processes. Post Office staff will work at the hub in a rota and will work closely with the banks and the credit union.”
He finished: “ It is hoped there will be around 50 in place in the UK by the end of the financial year.”
