Eight new 'banking hubs' are to open in the UK this year, as banks continue to shut their branches.
Banking hubs are seen as the solution to keeping customers’ access to cash, in-person contact and other financial services - especially in the increasing number of areas that no longer have bank branches or easy access to cash.
We tell you everything you need to know about banking hubs and where you can find one.
What are banking hubs?
Banking hubs allow different banks to work together to ensure communities have access to cash services, with a counter service provided by the Post Office. The hubs also provide dedicated rooms with bank staff on rotation, so customers can speak to trained specialists from their bank on set days.
Customers of any bank can withdraw money, access their accounts, deposit cash and cheques, at any time.
More complicated enquiries that require specialist knowledge or privacy are dealt with by a representative from one of each major banks that is involved in the collective scheme.
This means there should be trained specialists from different banks available on different days.
The first hubs were piloted in 2022 in Cambuslang in South Lanarkshire and Rochford in Essex.
Banks have been ramping up planned branch closures this year, including Nationwide, Barclays, Lloyds and Halifax. Since January 2015, 5,355 branches have been closed or are in the process of being closed, according to Which?.
When a bank closes a branch, it tells ATM network operator Link which then assesses the impact on the local community's access to cash.
Which banks have banking hubs?
10 banks are taking part in the collective banking hubs scheme:
- Bank of Ireland UK
- Barclays
- Danske Bank
- HSBC
- Lloyds Bank
- Nationwide Building Society
- NatWest
- Santander
- TSB
- Virgin Money
Where can I find a banking hub?
Since banking hubs were piloted last year, four hubs are currently open at the following locations:
- Brixham, Devon – 62 Fore Street, TQ5 8EF
- Cambuslang, Lanarkshire – 158 Main Street, G72 7EL
- Cottingham, East Yorkshire – 121 Hallgate, HU16 4DA
- Rochford, Essex – 38-40 West Street, SS4 1AJ
Where are the planned banking hubs?
Some 47 banking hubs are planned to open in communities across the UK this year. There is no specific launch date for when these hubs will open but most should be in operation within the next 12 months. We’ll update this article as soon as we know more.
- Acton, London
- Ampthill, Bedfordshire
- Axminster, Devon
- Barnoldswick, Lancashire
- Barton, North Lincolnshire
- Belper, Derbyshire
- Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
- Bury Park, Bedfordshire
- Cheadle, Staffordshire
- Clay Cross, Derbyshire
- Downham Market, Norfolk
- Earlestown, Merseyside
- Haslemere, Surrey
- Helston, Cornwall
- Heywood, Rochdale
- Hornsea, East Yorkshire
- Horwich, Bolton
- Knaresborough, Harrogate
- Looe, Cornwall
- Lutterworth, Leicestershire
- Market Rasen, Lincolnshire
- Maryport, Cumbria
- Newton Aycliffe, County Durham
- Oakham, Rutland
- Otley, West Yorkshire
- Royal Wootton Bassett, Wiltshire
- Shirebrook, Derbyshire
- Shoreham-by-Sea, West Sussex
- Sidmouth, Devon
- Stapleford, Nottinghamshire
- Syston, Leicestershire
- Watton, Norfolk
- Welling, London
- Wellington, Somerset
- Withernsea, East Yorkshire
- Kilkeel, County Down, Northern Ireland
- Brechin, Angus
- Carluke, South Lanarkshire
- Carnoustie, Angus
- Forres, Moray
- Kilwinning, North Ayrshire
- Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway
- Troon, South Ayrshire
- Abergele, Conwy
- Porthcawl, Bridgend
- Prestatyn, Denbighshire
- Welshpool, Powys
