The new Ilkley Banking Hub has opened its doors for the first time this week, moving from it's temporary home within Ilkley Library, to its new permanent location in the former HSBC bank, on the corner of Wells Road and Station Road.
Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, has confirmed the official opening will take place on Friday 27 March at 11am, with Ilkley's MP Robbie Moore, attending to cut the ribbon. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Customers of all major banks can visit the hub any weekday between 9am-5pm to carry out regular transactions including withdrawals and deposits as well as checking balances or paying bills.
Additionally, the hub also offers a community bank service where customers can talk to their own bank in a private space about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the hub.
The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days:
Monday: HSBC (coming soon)
Tuesday: Halifax
Wednesday: NatWest
Thursday: Santander
Friday: Barclays
Ilkley’s banking hub was recommended by LINK, the UK’s ATM network, following the closure of the town’s last remaining bank branch.
There is also a deposit machine available at Booths on Leeds Road in Ilkley, where customers can deposit cash, withdraw money, check their balance and manage their PIN.
There are now 12 hubs open across West Yorkshire with another in progress in Morley.
Robbie Moore MP said:
"It has been a long-fought campaign following the closure of all our high street bank branches in Ilkley, but I’m incredibly pleased to announce that Cash Access UK is now opening a banking hub offering services from all major banks - located on the corner of Wells Road and Station Road and open every weekday from 9am until 5pm.
"Over the course of this campaign, I have met directly with the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, as well Cash Access UK and LINK on many occasions to make the case for more banking hubs in our region. This will ensure residents and businesses can continue to access vital in-person banking services and cash transactions - which, as I have long made clear to the government, are crucial for our high street, our elderly residents, and those who rely on cash.
"But legislation also needs to change. Right now, it is far too difficult for a town such as Keighley to be recommended for a full banking hub until all its bank branches have closed. This means if you don’t bank with the last remaining branch in town, you are severely disadvantaged. I will be continuing to push for better access to in-person banking across the constituency, and continue to demand we get the same level of service in Keighley."
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK:
“I’m happy to announce the opening of our Ilkley hub in its permanent home, ensuring crucial access to cash and face-to-face banking services for residents and businesses across the community. The way we bank and pay for things is changing, which is why we are rolling out solutions including banking hubs as well as deposit ATMs that help small businesses to readily bank cash.
“Customers can visit any day of the week for their everyday banking transactions, and if you have a specific or more complex enquiry for your bank, a community banker will be there to help on the day they’re in the hub. A huge thanks to the team at the Ilkley Library for hosting us while we searched for this permanent home.”
For more information about banking hubs and the services they provide visit: cashaccess.co.uk
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