Face-to-face banking is back in St Annes Square after Andrew Snowden MP officially opened the town’s new Banking Hub alongside St Annes Mayor, Cllr Cheryl Little.
Situated in the old NatWest at 22 St Annes Road West, the new Hub means residents and businesses once again have somewhere in the heart of the town where they can access cash, carry out everyday banking and speak face-to-face with representatives from their bank.
Andrew welcomed the opening as another important victory in the fight to keep essential services in Fylde’s town centres.
Andrew Snowden MP said:
“People are fed up with seeing banks and other essential services disappear from our high streets, so I am absolutely delighted that banking is back in St Annes.
“We know online banking works well for lots of people, but it doesn’t work for everyone. Many older residents still want to speak to somebody face-to-face, while our shops, cafés and other local businesses need somewhere convenient to deposit and withdraw cash.
“This Banking Hub means those services are staying right here in St Annes, where they belong. I was delighted to join Cheryl to officially open it and I would encourage local residents and businesses to get behind it and use it.”
Banking Hubs are shared banking spaces which provide many of the services traditionally available through a high street bank branch.
Customers of all major banks and building societies can use the counter service throughout the working week to deposit and withdraw cash, pay in cheques, check their balance and pay utility bills, while registered businesses can also access change-giving services.
Alongside the counter service, different banks send a Community Banker to the Hub on different days of the week. Customers can meet them privately to discuss more complicated issues with their accounts, payments and transfers or get help with online banking.
In St Annes, Community Bankers are currently available:
• Monday – Barclays
• Tuesday – Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland
• Wednesday – NatWest
• Thursday – HSBC
• Friday – Santander, 9am–4.30pm
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The Hub itself is open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm, meaning customers do not have to wait until their own bank’s Community Banker day to use the everyday counter services.
St Annes Mayor Cllr Cheryl Little, who joined Andrew to officially open the new Hub, said:
“This is fantastic news for St Annes and something I know many residents will really welcome. We have seen too many services disappear from our high street over the years, so it is wonderful to be celebrating a new service opening its doors.
“Having somewhere local where people can deal with their everyday banking and, importantly, still speak to somebody face-to-face will make a real difference. I hope residents and businesses will make full use of the Hub and help make it a great success.”
Andrew has been campaigning for better access to banking services across Fylde as traditional branches have closed, with Banking Hubs now providing face-to-face services in Kirkham, Poulton and St Annes. He has also submitted a request to LINK for a Banking Hub in Lytham, which has been accepted for a full assessment.
Andrew added:
“This is about keeping our town centres alive and making sure communities aren't stripped of the services they need. We’ve now got Banking Hubs serving Kirkham, Poulton and St Annes, and I’m making the case for Lytham to be next.“But these Hubs need people to use them. So my message is simple: if you need to pay in cash or a cheque, withdraw money or want to speak to your bank face-to-face, please use your new Banking Hub and support this fantastic service.”
