Community abandoned by last bank in town to be thrown a lifeline, with hopes of getting shared banking center
A community abandoned by the last bank in town is getting a lifeline – with hopes it will gain a shared banking center after The Mail on Sunday shed light on its plight.
Just over a week ago, we visited Forres on the Moray Firth on the day Bank of Scotland withdrew from the 12,000-population town – and closed its doors for the last time on 11 July.
Conservative Moray MP Douglas Ross told us at the time that the closure is “credible” as it was a lifeline for the community, particularly for the elderly and the frail. But after advocacy for the Access to Cash Action Group – chaired by cash activist Natalie Ceeney – and backing from The Mail on Sunday, there is now hope for a banking hub for the city next year.
Disappearing act: we visited Forres on the Moray Firth on the day Bank of Scotland withdrew from the 12,000-strong city
Ross says: ‘Banks have shown a completely deaf attitude when it comes to meeting the needs of loyal customers and it’s a shame we don’t have a bank in Forres now – but a shared banking hub is a solution where customers have the one-to-one solution. -a service they need. We are currently discussing how this can be implemented.’
Shared hubs are heralded as a solution where banks have left a community – allowing the top five high-street banks to share one branch and offer basic banking to their customers.
The banks – NatWest, Santander, Lloyds (which owns Bank of Scotland), HSBC and Barclays – have staff on a certain day of the week to provide personal assistance, such as in arranging a mortgage or personal loan.
So far, only two shared banking centers have opened in Rochford, Essex and Cambuslang, South Lanarkshire. Ten others will open in Acton, West London; Brixham, Devon; Carnoustie, Angus; Knaresborough, North Yorkshire; Syston, Leicestershire; Buckingham, Buckinghamshire: Cottingham, East Yorkshire; Troon, South Ayrshire; Loo, Cornwall; and Welshpool, Powys.
Ceeney: ‘Not everyone wants to do everything digitally. Face-to-face support for accessing cash, deposits and other banking is essential for many. We are committed to providing the support needed in Forres.”
Banks are currently withdrawing from high streets at record speed, fearing that proposed government legislation will soon prevent them from fleeing so easily. More than 500 stores are expected to close this year.
The Mail on Sunday has long campaigned for laws to protect access to cash and banking services. Some 5.4 million people rely on cash for their day-to-day budgeting.
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