Dawlish to receive new banking hub following community request

LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, has today announced that Dawlish locals and businesses will soon find it easier to access banking services thanks to the addition of a new banking hub in the town.

Following a community request from a member of the public, LINK has confirmed that the town will benefit from a new banking hub as part of a wider commitment to protect access to cash.

There are currently eight banking hubs up and running across the UK including Acton (London), Buckingham (Buckinghamshire), Carnoustie (Angus), Brixham (Devon), Cambuslang (Lanarkshire), Cottingham (East Riding of Yorkshire), Rochford (Essex) and Troon (Ayrshire).

LINK have already recommended new hubs across the county in Axminster, Dartmouth, Sidmouth, and Teignmouth, alongside the Brixham hub that opened last year.

Today’s news follows the recent announcement from the Government to ensure cash access is protected. Alongside LINK’s existing commitments that every high street gets free access to cash, new laws will make it mandatory for consumers and businesses to be able to withdraw and deposit cash.

In 2021, the banking industry agreed that following the closure of any bank branch, LINK will identify whether a community requires further cash services. Additionally, any community without a branch can contact LINK directly and ask to be assessed for support.

Banking hubs are 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.

In addition to new banking hubs, other new innovations such as deposit services, and Cash at the Till, which allows retailers to provide free access to cash to consumers, are beginning to appear across the country.

The banking hub will now be delivered by Cash Access UK. Over the next few weeks, it will begin to engage with the local community and to start looking for potential sites. It is likely to open in 2024.

Anne Marie Morris, MP for Newton Abbot: “This is fantastic news for Dawlish! The continuation of face-to-face banking services will make a huge difference for small business and the local community. Banking hubs allow for more than one bank to be represented in one location, so greater access can be shared by more people. I know how hard community groups have worked to make a banking hub a reality in Dawlish - a great success story!"

Adrian Roberts, Chief Commercial Officer, LINK:“It was great to visit Dawlish recently and meet the local community. We’re pleased to recommend the new hub and we look forward to it serving the community when it opens next year.”