Westbury’s long-awaited new banking hub is now open for business, offering local residents a facility for in-person banking services following the closure of the town’s last bank in 2018.
The hub has been temporarily set up in The Reading Room at The Laverton, but it is expected to be relocated to a permanent home later this year.
Mayor Cllr Jane Russ, who was part of the campaign for the banking hub, said, “I am absolutely thrilled. People like Councillor Kate Knight, Sheila Kimmins and Val Jarvis have been instrumental in making this happen for the town.
“I’ve been using online banking for about 20 years, and it’s great until it isn’t. Systems can go down, and sometimes you really need to talk to someone face to face. It’s crucial that people in the town have a physical place they can go to. The banking hub is wonderful news, and Westbury Town Council is delighted to be able to help Cash Access UK with this.”
Westbury has been without a bank since 2018 when the last remaining branches, Barclays and Lloyds, closed.
The banking hub’s arrival follows a petition launched by local resident Val Jarvis, which garnered 600 signatures in support of the project.
Banking hubs are shared spaces, similar to traditional bank branches, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments, and carry out regular banking transactions.
The new hub is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and closed on weekends. Operated by Cash Access UK, it will have staff from different banks available on rotating days.
Cash Access UK has been working alongside Westbury Town Council to find a more permanent home for the banking hub. While the current location at The Laverton is temporary, plans are in place for a permanent site at a different, undisclosed location.
Cllr Russ said, “I want to stress that the location of the banking hub is temporary. The Laverton is a short-term solution. This is not where it will permanently be, and there will be a more accessible location for the banking hub once the other property is ready.”
“I think this shows enormous goodwill on the part of Cash Access UK to spend money on the temporary hub so people in Westbury have something in the interim.”
For people seeking to visit the temporary banking hub, there is no access through the front door of The Laverton – visitors need to follow the signs to The Reading Room entrance.
Currently, a community banker from Natwest will be at the hub on Tuesdays and a Barclays representative on Thursdays. Cash Access UK hope that Lloyds, HSBC and Halifax representatives will be in place in the near future as well.
Mittal Soni, operator at the Westbury banking hub, said the first few days had seen a steady stream of customers pop in, including Mayor Jane Russ, to meet with staff.
He said, “We want to encourage people in the local community to come and visit the hub. We’ve had people come in and think they can only do cash transactions on certain days when their community bank representative is in. But that’s not true, you can come by any day to make a cash transaction.
“You can also make cash deposits, get change if you are a local business, do cash withdrawals, cheque deposits, and make utility bill payments.
“We’ve got myself, Anne, Zoe and Tarnia here at the hub to help you when we can.”
Anne Evans, who lives in Westbury and works at the banking hub, said the town centre location of the temporary banking hub had been praised by customers.
She said, “This is revolutionary for Westbury. Not just for older people, but for everyone. This was desperately needed for the town. We’ve been out with flyers to let people know we’re here.
“Now it needs support and for people to use it.”
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK, said, “I’m happy to announce that we have opened the new banking hub in Westbury, giving local residents renewed access to cash and in-person banking services.
“The hub is available for everyday banking transactions every day of the week, and for more specific or complex enquiries, a community banker will be on-site to assist on designated days.”
For more information, visit https://www.cashaccess.co.uk/hubs/westbury-wiltshire/
Pictured: Banking hub manager Mittal Soni with cashiers Anne, left, and Zoe, right
