STALYBRIDGE is embracing a new era of handling money with the opening of a temporary Banking Hub.
Located at the ground floor of St Andrews House on Waterloo Road, the facility opened its doors to customers on Wednesday, July 3 in an initiative that marks a step towards maintaining accessible services in the area.
The decision to establish the hub comes against a backdrop of declining branch availability, with several major banks reducing their physical presence across Tameside.
Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit organisation supported by leading banks and building societies, has spearheaded this effort to provide essential banking services where traditional branches have withdrawn.
The temporary hub is managed by some familiar faces. Current Postmaster Brenda Brooks, who has served the area from Stalybridge Post Office for more than 50 years, will be supported by Leah Brooks and Claire Paton.
The hub aims to cater to various banking needs of residents and businesses. It features a main counter area along with a meeting room, where customers can have private consultations with community bankers.
The hub will offer a range of essential services, including:
– Cash withdrawals and deposits
– Cheque deposits
– Balance inquiries
– Bill payments
Customers will have access to these facilities during the hub’s operating hours, which are scheduled from 9am until 5pm Monday to Friday.
And a number of household banking names have signed up to the initiative including Natwest, Halifax, Lloyds, Santander and Barclays.
While the temporary hub is a welcome interim solution, discussions are underway regarding the establishment of a permanent banking facility in Stalybridge.
Plans are advancing for a Banking Hub at the Summers Quay development on Armentieres Square.
Documents supporting the applications state: “The interior of the building is proposed to a Banking Hub. This will include re-organising of the internal layout to meet Cash Access UK standards.”
A Banking Hub has been talked about in Stalybridge for some time as branches pull out of the town.
Jonathan Reynolds told The Correspondent he believes a solution should be found, saying: “One alternative that has been proposed are ‘banking hubs,’ whereby banks would jointly cover the cost of providing shared facilities.
“Clearly to work this would have to offer decent provision and availability. I think we clearly need something like this in Stalybridge.
“I recognise personal banking habits have changed and lots of people don’t use branches any more, but I still feel the Government have allowed a situation to occur where there will soon be no bank branches outside of major city centres and little thought has been given to what that means.”
