THE lease for the new Banking Hub in Abergele has been signed.

Residents living in the town have lost seven banks in the town over the years.

Whilst there are a few ATMs nearby and a Post Office, there are currently no banks in the town and residents have to travel to Colwyn Bay or Rhyl to visit their branch.

Last year, it was confirmed that the town will benefit from a new banking hub as part of a wider commitment to protect access to cash. Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, made requests to LINK for the hub.

Mr Millar received an email from Cash Access UK informing him that the lease for the Abergele Banking Hub was signed late on Friday, February 16.

The new hub will be located at the former Barclays Bank; Barclays closed in branch in Abergele in late 2017.

“This is very welcome news indeed for the people of Abergele and the surrounding areas who have been without a bank in the town for some time now," Mr Millar said.

RELATED STORIES

 “The new Banking Hub will be located at 67 Market Street, the former Barclays Bank Banking, and will provide a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone.
 
“The hub will consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions. In addition, there will be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy. The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.
 
“Last year, a banking hub was opened in Prestatyn and has proved to be a great success, with people of all ages using it. I know that this success will be replicated in Abergele and I very much forward to the Abergele Banking Hub opening soon and will update residents once an opening date has been confirmed.”

Efforts are being made to contact Cash Access UK.

Last week, it was confirmed that Barclays is to close its branch in Rhyl due to “the ongoing change in behaviour” in the way people bank.

It is set to close in August.