Mountain Ash has become the latest location in Wales to get the go-ahead for a banking hub after its last high street bank branch closed seven years ago.
The hub has been confirmed by LINK - the 海角视频’s cash access and ATM network. LINK, which is supported by all the main 海角视频 banks, provides communities with continued access to cash and banking services when they are left without a high street banking presence.
Once the Mountain Ash hub is operational - which is expected this time next year - as with other hubs it will consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions.
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In addition, there will be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy. The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.
LINK has recommended over 100 hubs across the 海角视频 to date, including eight others in Wales. Two are operational at Welshpool and Prestatyn, with locations having been identified and lease negotiations under way for hubs in Abergele, Porthcawl and Risca. Property searches are also being conducted for Abertillery, Morrison and Treorchy.
The hub approval for Mountain Ash followed a request from Labour MS for the Cynon Valley Vickki Howells.
She said; “I am delighted that through my campaigning, people living in Mountain Ash and the surrounding area will soon have access to a wide variety of face-to-face over the counter banking services.
“Every town deserves a bank, and many people have felt left behind when high street banks have closed branches. It is only fair that customers should be able to continue to access face-to-face banking services, particularly after a lifetime of loyalty to their own bank.
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“Mountain Ash lost its last bank in 2017, and since then I have worked to ensure people in the town have access to banking facilities – this is a brilliant outcome and I look forward to the banking hub’s opening in due course”.
Nick Quin, head of financial inclusion for LINK, said: “We’re very pleased to recommend a new hub in Mountain Ash. While more people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, there are still millions who prefer to pay in cash and like to do their banking face-to-face. If a community believes that it needs additional cash services, they can contact LINK directly and we can assess whether we can recommend new services such as cash machines or banking hubs.”