The number of banking hubs in Wales, set up to provide banking services in communities where high street banks no longer have a branch presence, has reached nine with the latest opening in Mountain Ash.
The hubs, for which there are now 111 across the Ƶ, provide counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions, Monday to Friday.
It also offers a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the hub. The temporary location for the new hub in is Mountain Ash's town hall.
The hubs, for which in Wales two more are planned in Flint and Monmouth, are funded via not-for- profit company Cash Access - backed by the Ƶ’s biggest banks, including Bank of Ireland Ƶ, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC Ƶ, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.
LINK, the Ƶ’s cash machine network, decides where new services are needed by reviewing the impact of every proposed branch closure by its members. A community can also ask to LINK to carry out an assessment if they feel they need better access to cash.
Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access Ƶ: “I’m happy to announce that the new banking hub in Mountain Ash is now open in the Town Hall, giving local residents renewed access to cash and in-person banking services. The hub is available for everyday banking transactions on week days. For specific or complex enquiries, a community banker will be on-site to assist on designated days.”
As well as Mountain Ash the other hubs in Wales are in Abergele, Abertillery, Morriston, Mountain Ash, Porthcawl, Prestatyn, Risca, Treorchy and Welshpool.
