A MUCH-awaited banking hub will open in Prestatyn on Thursday (December 7).

Cash Access UK, an independent company funded by nine banks and building societies (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds Banking Group, Nationwide Building Society, NatWest Group, Santander, Virgin Money, Danske Bank and TSB), will open the 'hub' at the former HSBC premises at 35 High Street.

The banking hub, the first in Wales, will be officially opened by Dr James Davies, MP for Vale of Clwyd. He will be joined by the Paymaster General, the Rt Honourable John Glen MP, who played a key role to help pass legislation in the UK Parliament to protect access to cash.

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, Monday to Friday. The banking hub also offers a 'Community Banker Service' where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues.

It will open Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm and the Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week:

Monday: Halifax

Tuesday: NatWest

Wednesday: Barclays

Thursday: Santander

Friday: HSBC

Dr Davies said: “The opening of a banking hub in Prestatyn will be warmly welcomed by thousands of people in the area.

“Last year, I led discussions with LINK to highlight Prestatyn’s need for face-to-face banking facilities, following the rapid closure of several High Street bank branches and I put the town forward for consideration of a banking hub.

"I would like to thank LINK, with whom I have since worked extensively, for their recommendation of a hub and Cash Access UK for delivering this for the town.

“It is a particular pleasure to welcome the Rt Hon John Glen MP to officially open the new facility," he added. 

"His role in translating public concern over access to cash and banking services into the legislation, which will help ensure the banking hub concept goes from strength to strength, is truly appreciated.”

Prestatyn was left without a single bank when TSB, Barclays and HSBC all closed in 2021. This followed on from the town’s loss of NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and building society branches in the preceding five years.

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The hub in Prestatyn is the first to open in Wales with a further seven in the pipeline in Welshpool, Abergele, Abertillery, Morriston, Porthcawl, Risca and Treorchy.

The hub in Welshpool is due to open by the end of the year.

Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK: “This is great news for Prestatyn. We’re really pleased to open Wales’s first banking hub. It’ll make a real difference to local businesses and residents."

Mr Glen said: "I am delighted to see Prestatyn benefit from a banking hub - this was a project I was very supportive of as Economic Secretary and I am visiting to applaud my colleague James Davies MP who was a tenacious and powerful campaigner for Prestatyn - I hope the hub will be a much-valued resource for local residents.”