Town councillors have heard moves to introduce a banking hub in Horsforth have been gathering pace.
In January Lloyds Bank Group announced plans to close its Halifax branch, giving 12 months’ notice on their Town Street building. This led to LINK and Cash Access UK announcing plans to introduce a banking hub following the departure of the last banking hub in the town.
Banking hubs are shared banking spaces, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to all banking customers. The hub would include an ATM and a cash deposit and withdrawal service for personal current accounts and businesses, operating from 9am to 5pm Mondays to Fridays.
Councillors at last night’s Horsforth Town Council finance and general purposes committee heard that representatives from Cash Access had been in touch and were actively looking for potential bases in the town.
“They seem keen to find somewhere,” said Councillor John Garvani (Broadfields ward).
He said a number of buildings were being considered for the facility but said Cash Access, which is operated by the UK’s major banks, were not keen on taking on a short term commercial lease to use the former Santander banking building.
Cllr Garvani said if a suitable building was not found that Cash Access was keen to use a venue which may already be operated by an independent business and possibly share facilities and do ‘drop in sessions’.
“I thought it might take eight months, but it seems to be suddenly coming together,” he added.
Meetings with Cash Access were due to be held in coming weeks to help identify a venue.
Horsforth Town Council chair Simon Dowling said: “It’s great that Horsforth has been considered for a banking hub. When I first looked at this five years ago it was a case of ‘not on your nelly’.”
WLD first reported on the hub plans in January.
At the time Dr Chris Ashton, Chief Commercial Officer at LINK, said: “While more people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, we know that many people still rely and choose to use cash and face-to-face banking.
“That’s why we’re delighted to recommend a new hub in Horsforth. There are over one hundred hubs open across the country and when it opens, the Horsforth banking hub will be vital for the local community and high street.”
An opening date for the Horsforth banking hub has yet to be set.
- Last night’s finance and general purposes committee meeting was held in Horsforth Museum. The agenda can be read here.
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