Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, has today reached a major milestone with the official opening of its 200th banking hub in Billericay, Essex.
Billericay was recommended following the announcement of the closure of the town’s final bank branch. Like other hubs across the country, Billericay’s hub offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. It also offers a Community Banker service, where customers can speak to their own bank about more complex issues on the day their bank is in the hub. The hub is located in the heart of the town centre in the former Lloyds Bank building.
As part of today’s landmark, visitors to the hub can also explore a unique display of coins from across British history — from pre-Roman slaters and a Roman Denarius to a Medieval Henry VI Noble and a modern two-shilling piece — all recreated in chocolate. A limited number of these chocolate coins will be given out to members of the public at the hub today, offering a sweet taste of Britain’s rich coinage heritage.
Alongside today’s 200th hub opening, Cash Access UK can confirm that over 130 deposit services are now live across the UK. Deposit services allow small businesses to deposit and access cash either through deposit ATMs, where customers from different banks can bank cash, enhanced Post Offices, where there is a separate counter for banking customers.
or cash hubs which provide communities with access to assisted cash and basic banking services through a brand new counter service.
Two other hubs have also opened in new communities in the last week in Larne and Houghton-le-Spring.
Banking hubs and deposit services are delivered by Cash Access UK in communities where these are needed and recommended by LINK. If a bank branch closes, LINK the UK’s cash access and ATM network, independently review a community to understand whether the closure will affect access to cash for locals. Communities can also request LINK to carry out an assessment if they feel they need better access to cash.
To date, 247 banking hubs have been recommended, with more openings planned in the coming months.
Gareth Oakley, CEO, Cash Access UK: “Reaching our 200th banking hub is a huge achievement and shows the strength of industry collaboration to keep cash and banking services accessible. These hubs are proving extremely popular, which demonstrates that face-to-face banking remains vital for millions of individuals and businesses across the UK, even as digital banking grows. We’re proud to bring this service to Billericay and will continue delivering new services across the country.”
