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Banking hub to 'relieve anxiety' as last bank closes

BBC Shoppers walking up and down Cheap Street in Sherborne. It is winter and it has been raining so the road and pavement are wet. People are walking on the pavement as well as on the street. There are shops on either side of the road.BBC
Sherborne will lose its remaining bank next year

Bringing a banking hub to a town as its remaining bank shuts would "relieve a lot of anxiety" and save people miles of travelling, residents have said.

Sherborne in Dorset is due to lose the final branch on its high street - Lloyds Bank - on 16 January.

A new banking hub, run by not-for-profit company Cash Access UK and the Post Office, is expected to open before the closure.

Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, admitted "it won't be the same" but said it was "probably the second best option" to having a bank in the town.

A hand putting a bank card into a Lloyds Bank ATM machine.
Lloyds Bank in Sherborne is due to shut on 16 January but the banking hub is expected to open before the closure

Sarah Evans, of Cash Access UK, said each hub offered a post office counter service, allowing customers of any bank to withdraw and deposit cash, settle bills, and conduct routine banking transactions - Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:00.

"Alongside that we also offer a community banker service where people can talk to a representative from their bank for more complex banking queries - so on Monday it might be someone from Lloyds, for example," she continued.

Sarah Evans pictured from the shoulders up. She has long blonde hair, is wearing a black jacket and is smiling at the camera. Behind her there is a red, green and cream, gingham curtain.
Sarah Evans, of Cash Access UK, said people would be able to speak "face-to-face" with a community banker from their own bank at the new hub

Sherborne resident Roy Lingham said it was the thought of losing an ATM in the town that bothered him most, but he was "not totally surprised" all the banks were closing.

"If people use services online, I think it's inevitable," he added.

Brian Close, who lives in Shaftesbury, said the new hub would mean he would no longer have to travel 20 miles to Salisbury.

"I would welcome somewhere like this," he said, adding the current situation was "frustration all round".

Jane Smith said: "Lots of people don't like to use online banking for all sorts of reasons, so it's essential.

"It would relieve a lot of anxiety in people."

Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, pictured from the chest up. He has short brown curly hair that is greying on the sides. He is wearing a pale shirt, a burgundy, zip-up jumper and a brown, chequered suit jacket. He is smiling at the camera. Behind him is a wooden Welsh dresser with various items on the shelves, including a woven basket.
Edward Morello, MP for West Dorset, said the new hub would save people from sitting in "epically long telephone queues"

Lib Dem MP Mr Morello said: "Ultimately I would love to see banks on our high street thriving and providing the full range of services the banks are supposed to provide to their customers.

"The next best option after that is a banking hub. It means that people can still go in and see a human being - not have to do everything online, not rely on chatbots or sitting in epically long telephone queues."

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