Banking Hub to restore cash services to district

The location of a new Banking Hub for Hornsea has been revealed.

Hornsea has been without high street banking provision since the closure of its last two bank branches in 2018.

Last year, in response to growing concerns about people’s access to cash, East Riding of Yorkshire Council completed an audit of banking and cash machine provision across the region.

As a result of the audit, the council requested a review of banking provision in Hornsea, and in September last year, LINK and the Cash Access Group confirmed the town would be getting a Banking Hub.

The former Poundland site where the Banking Hub will be located

It has now been confirmed the Banking Hub will be located at Unit 2, Newbegin, a site formerly occupied by Poundland.

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.

It will also offer a Community Banker service, where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues.

Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week:

• Monday: Barclays
• Tuesday: Lloyds
• Wednesday: HSBC
• Thursday: NatWest
• Friday: Santander (pm)

The East Riding currently has one Banking Hub in Cottingham, and another hub is expected to open next year in Withernsea.

Councillor Barbara Jefferson, portfolio holder for coastal communities, said: “With bank branches closing across the country, we must make sure people still have access to cash and banking services in their communities.

“Not everyone has access to the internet, and even if they do, they may not wish to do their banking that way, so it is wonderful that we are now able to bring in-person bank services back for the people of Hornsea.

“I am very much looking forward to this Banking Hub opening for the people of Hornsea and I’d like to thank everyone who has made this possible.”

The team at Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect nationwide access to cash, are now fitting out the new premises.

Gareth Oakley, CEO of Cash Access UK, said: “Following anticipation from the local community, I am glad we are able to confirm the location of the forthcoming Banking Hub in Hornsea.

“The Banking Hub will greatly improve access to cash services for individuals and small businesses in the Hornsea community.”