A banking hub in Knaresborough has officially opened its doors to customers.
An opening event was held at the site on Kirkgate this morning.
Cash Access UK, the not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash, is behind the new facility.
Officials from the company, Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, local councillors and the town crier were all in attendance at the official opening.
Cat Farrow, chief operating officer at Cash Access UK, said:
“Knaresborough is really thriving.
“It has got a lot of small businesses and people who need access to cash.”
Mr Jones, who cut the ribbon, described the hub as a “huge community asset”.
Knaresborough town crier at the opening of the banking hub.
The hub, at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.
It also provides a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.
The hub is open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm and the community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week: NatWest on Mondays, Halifax on Tuesdays, Santander on Wednesdays, HSBC on Thursdays, and Barclays on Fridays.
Read more:
- Plan approved to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
- Business group plans to bring banking hub to Ripon
- Knaresborough banking hub location revealed
Knaresborough banking hub to officially open next week
Knaresborough’s new banking hub will officially open its doors to customers for the first time next week, the organisation behind it has revealed.
Cash Access UK, the not-for-profit company set up by 10 major high-street banking providers to protect the public’s access to cash, has confirmed the hub will be opened by Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, at 11am on Friday, November 17.
Gareth Oakley, chief executive of Cash Access UK, said:
“Access to cash services is vital to millions of people in the UK, therefore we are pleased to announce the opening of the banking hub in Knaresborough.
“Upon the opening of the banking hub, local businesses and residents will benefit from improved access to cash.”
The banking hub, at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, from Monday to Friday.
It will also offer a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.
The banking hub will be open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm and the community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week: NatWest on Mondays, Halifax on Tuesdays, Santander on Wednesdays, HSBC on Thursdays, and Barclays on Fridays.
Charlotte Gale, of Knaresborough & District Chamber, said:
“Improving banking and cash access for Knaresborough’s businesses and residents is something chamber are very passionate about.
“This is something we’ve long campaigned for and it’s been a pleasure to support the team at Cash Access UK in launching this exciting project.”
Banking hubs are being created across the UK and are funded and supported by nine major high-street banking providers: Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Danske Bank, HSBC UK Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group plc, Santander UK plc, TSB Bank plc and Virgin Money.
Knaresborough was chosen to receive a banking hub after LINK, the UK’s cash access and cash machine network, identified the need for enhanced cash deposit services following bank branch closures in the town.
Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, said:
“The banking hub will be invaluable to residents and businesses in Knaresborough and be welcomed by those who rely on cash and face-to-face banking.”
Read more:
- Plan approved to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
- Business group plans to bring banking hub to Ripon
- Knaresborough banking hub location revealed
Plan approved to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
A plan has been approved to convert part of a grade-II listed former Knaresborough mill into a banking hub.
Cash Access UK submitted the proposal to North Yorkshire Council for the building on Kirkgate in the town.
The mill was built in the 18th century and was most recently used as a tile showroom.
It will see the ground floor of the former mill converted into a banking hub, which will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The company identified the former mill as its site for the banking hub in June.
At the time, Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access UK, said:
“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.
“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough.”
Read more:
- Knaresborough banking hub could open this year
- Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building
Plan submitted to convert Knaresborough mill into banking hub
A plan has been submitted to convert part of a grade-II listed former Knaresborough mill into a banking hub.
Cash Access UK has lodged the plan for the building on Kirkgate in the town.
The mill was built in the 18th century and was most recently used as a tile showroom.
The developer plans to convert the ground floor of the former mill into a banking hub, which will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
The company identified the former mill as its site for the banking hub in June.
At the time, Gareth Oakley, chief executive at Cash Access UK, said:
“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.
“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough.”
North Yorkshire Council will make a decision on the proposal at a later date.
Cash Access UK is owned and funded by 10 of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.
Read more:
- Knaresborough banking hub could open this year
- Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building
Knaresborough banking hub location revealed
The new banking hub in Knaresborough will be located at 15 Kirkgate, Bowling Green Yard, it was announced today.
The hub will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.
However, an opening date is still yet to be revealed.
It will also provide a community banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues, from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.
Community bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week. They are usually provided by the banking providers with the most customers in the local area.
Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, revealed details of the hub today following longstanding concerns about bank closures in Knaresborough.
The process of finding a banking hub in Knaresborough has taken a while to come to fruition. There were hopes it would happen last year.
Gareth Oakley, chief at Cash Access UK:
“We know the new banking hub has been eagerly anticipated by the local community and so we’re delighted we’ve now been able to secure a fantastic location for you in the heart of the community.
“This brings us a significant step closer in being able to deliver improved access to cash services to individuals and businesses in Knaresborough”.
Nick Garrett, of the community benefit society Knaresborough Connectors: said the hub would reduce financial exclusion, adding:
“Many of Knaresborough’s frail residents tell us they prefer services, especially financial ones, to be face to face as online services aren’t accessible.”
Read more:
- Knaresborough banking hub could open this year
- Bank machines to be fitted in Knaresborough Library building
Andrew Jones, MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough said:
“When the hub opens it will be invaluable to residents of Knaresborough, especially to those who rely on cash and face-to-face banking.”
Charlotte Gale, of Knaresborough and District Chamber said:
“Better banking and cash access within the town is something chamber are very passionate about. This is something we’ve long campaigned for and we’re thrilled that a site has now been secured.”
Cash Access UK is owned and funded by 10 of the UK’s biggest banking providers: Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.
These firms have come together to provide shared services available to all their customers.