Town left without bank to get temporary hub

A new temporary banking hub is due to open in a town in Derbyshire by the end of the month.

Derbyshire Dales District Council says the hub in Bakewell, which has been without a bank for a year, will be based at the Agricultural Business Centre (ABC), in Agricultural Way, until a permanent solution is found.

The last bank in the town, and the whole of the Peak District National Park, was NatWest, in Water Street, which permanently closed in February last year.

Steve Flitter, district council leader, said: "It will be terrific for Bakewell and surrounding villages to have convenient local banking facilities again."

He added: "We have worked hard behind the scenes in recent months with Cash Access UK to make this happen."

The council said it had signed an agreement with the not-for-profit company, which will operate the hub.

The company received funding from major high street banks, to provide cash and basic banking services across the country.

Customers of all major banks will be able to use the hub, while the counter will be operated by the Post Office for transactions like paying in cash and cheques, making withdrawals, paying bills and topping up gas and electricity accounts.

A banker will also be available once a week on a rota to talk to customers about more specific or complicated matters, and no appointment is needed.

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