COMMUNITY figures have heard of plans for Helensburgh’s new banking hub, with a site reportedly identified in the town.
Argyll and Bute Council’s Helensburgh and Lomond community planning group heard from a representative of Cash Access UK, which hopes to set up once the town’s final bank closes its doors next month.
The Bank of Scotland, on Colquhoun Street, will shut its doors for the final time on Thursday, March 5, leaving the town with no recognised High Street banks.
However, Cash Access UK regional manager Lesley Wilson told the community planning group of plans for 24-hour cash access along with representatives of banking companies being in attendance. The group met on Monday, February 2.
Ms Wilson said: “Currently we have 211 banking hubs open throughout the UK. They are a mix of permanent, temporary and enhanced Post Offices.
“We have evolved to provide different cash solutions, and essentially what happens is that Link will make an assessment of the community, either by community request or when the last bank in town announces its closure.
“It assesses the demographic and size of the population and what services will be left and what the community is losing, as well as how far it is to the nearest branch. A recommendation is made which we then implement.
“What has been recommended her is a banking hub with an ATM. We always strive for an external ATM, so that there is 24-hour access to cash.
“The last bank in town cannot close until you have a cash solution in place, so our service has to be up and running prior to the last bank shutting in March.
“Within the hub we have counter service and a community banker service. The counter service is available to anybody and it does not matter who you bank with, and is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.
“We run that in collaboration with the Post Office, who have access to one banking system.
“The community banker service is where a representative from a particular bank is present within the hub on an allocated day.
“We have identified a property in Helensburgh. The lease is not signed as yet, but we are hoping to take it over.”
Cash Access UK opened a hub in nearby Alexandria in November, with representatives of Virgin Money and Royal Bank of Scotland visiting on Tuesdays and Thursdays respectively.
Ms Wilson added: “Although it is access to cash, we provide a very safe environment, and you can select the denomination of your withdrawal if you want certain notes or coins.
“I appreciate that people are disappointed that banks are withdrawing from the High Street, but I hope people can see the benefit that a banking hub can provide.”
