New banking hub for Nawest, Barclays, Santander, Lloyds and Halifax customers to open in Greater Manchester
A new banking hub in Stockport will open this week, it has been confirmed. Located in the Village Square in Bramhall, it will offer counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
It is the second hub to open in Greater Manchester. Horwich in Bolton currently has a temporary Banking Hub, and work to open hubs in Heywood, Ramsbottom, Stalybridge and Westhoughton is now underway.
The Bramhall branch is the result of a local campaign to have local banking services reinstated. NatWest’s decision to shut its Heald Green branch meant people living in the Cheadle parliamentary constituency were left without any face-to-face banking services from July last year.
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The new hub will officially open at 11am this Friday (April 5) and will be open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm thereafter. As well as basic counter services such as allowing people to withdraw cash, collect change, deposit cheques, pay bills and make balance enquiries, staff from several high street banks will be available weekly face-to-face to deal with any financial issues.
These are:
Monday: NatWest
Tuesday: Barclays
Wednesday: Santander
Thursday: Lloyds
Friday: Halifax
LINK, who run the cash machine’s network, decides where new services are needed and announced the plan for a hub in Bramhall last May. It is run by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company owned and funded by nine major banks.
Gareth Oakley, CEO, of Cash Access UK said: “I’m happy to announce the opening of our Bramhall Hub in the Village Square. As well as supporting continued access to cash and face-to-face banking services for residents, it will provide a boost to local businesses too.”
Paul Wrigglesworth, Property Director at Wain Estates, which operates and manages the Square,: “When the final bank in Bramhall closed, we actively approached Cash Access to explore the possibility of bringing a Banking Hub to the Square and are absolutely delighted to now see it open.
“It will provide a vital banking service, needed not just by members of the community but by the many independent shops and businesses in Bramhall Village Square and the wider village centre.”
Lib Dem councillors Dallas Jones, for Bramhall South and Woodford and Tom Morrison for Cheadle West and Gatley said: “This is brilliant news and well deserved for the community. We’re delighted the campaign to bring banking services back to Bramhall has resulted in this.”
Mary Robinson MP for Cheadle: “Great to see the Banking Hub open! Having started the campaign by raising the issue with the Prime Minister at PMQs, I am delighted that banking services have now been restored to Cheadle constituency.
“Thank you to LINK, Cash Access UK, and the Post Office for their hard work in making this happen, and bringing cash and everyday banking services to the community!
“I look forward to ‘cutting the ribbon’ at the official opening of the brand-new Banking Hub in the heart of Bramhall next week and working with LINK to secure the next one!”
