Anthony officially opened the brand new Brixham Banking Hub on Friday 2 December 2022. Having worked with Brixham Town Council and the Access to Cash Action Group for over a year to ensure banking services are restored to the town, Mr Mangnall joined representatives of the Banking Hub and Post Office at the official launch.
Located at 62 Fore Street, the new shared banking space is open 9am to 5pm on weekdays, offering a counter service operated by the Post Office. Customers of all major banks and building societies can withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, make balance enquiries and use the free ATM. Community Bankers will visit the hub on rotation, allowing customers to talk to a representative of their own bank about more complicated issues. The initial rota will see a representative from Barclays on a Monday, NatWest on a Tuesday, Lloyds Bank on a Wednesday, Nationwide on a Thursday morning and Santander on a Thursday afternoon, and Barclays on a Friday. No appointment is required.
Brixham Banking Hub is one of the first to be opened across the UK, with more set to open in the coming months. Access to cash remains important for many people across the UK, and the new Banking Hub is expected to make a real difference to residents and businesses who struggle without access to banking services.
Speaking at the launch, Anthony Mangnall MP said:
“I could not be more delighted to see a Banking Hub opened in Brixham, having worked with Brixham Town Council and the Access to Cash Action Group over the last year.
Many local residents and businesses will benefit from having this physical service in the centre of town, especially those who continue to use and rely on cash. It’s my hope that having the Banking Hub here will see more people visit the high street and spend their cash locally, supporting small businesses and keeping Brixham vibrant.
I would encourage as many local people as possible to visit Banking Hub for their banking needs. As one of the first of its kind to open, I am optimistic that Brixham Banking Hub’s success will pave the way for more branches to open in the other towns across South Devon where banking services are also lacking.”
In a joint statement from Brixham Town Council, Chairperson Cllr Richard Haddock and Town Clerk Tracey Hallett said:
“As more banks announce their branch closures, we are in no doubt that Brixham is one of a small number of communities leading the way to what is likely to become the new “norm” for accessing our banking needs. We would like to thank Anthony Mangnall for listening to our concerns and for the support Access to Cash Action Group have given us to bring this project to fruition. It has been a long road from when the last bank closed in Brixham to where we are today and we actively encourage our community to use and support the Banking Hub.”
Gareth Oakley, CEO of Cash Access UK which is responsible for Banking Hubs, said:
“Having access to cash services is vital for millions of people around the UK, particularly in challenging financial times, so I’m delighted to announce the opening of the Banking Hub in Brixham. Seeing the impact of the existing Hubs on local communities is a reminder of how important these services are – from the counter service to the knowledge and support of the community bankers. As our doors open, we are looking forward to becoming part of the community and supporting local people and businesses in Brixham.”