Crewkerne to receive a new banking hub following a community request

LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, has confirmed that Crewkerne will be the latest town in Somerset to benefit from a new banking hub. The town has been recommended a hub following a community request from Adam Dance, MP for Yeovil.

Banking hubs are shared banking spaces, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to all banking customers. When opened, 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 work on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.

Crewkerne’s recommendation follows a community request to LINK, who determined that the town requires additional cash services to support local businesses and banking customers.

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 will start to look for potential sites.

To date, LINK has recommended 179 banking hubs across the UK. Alongside Crewkerne, LINK has today recommended two more hubs following community requests. These will be located in Cowes (Isle of Wight) and Barnard Castle (County Durham).

Crewkerne is the fifth banking hub to be recommended in Somerset. This follows a recent hub opening in Wellington, with hubs recommended in Frome, Keynsham and Nailsea set to open soon.

More than 100 banking hubs are open across the UK. 

Dr Chris Ashton, Chief Commercial Officer, LINK said: “While more people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, we know that many people still rely on cash and face-to-face banking. That’s why we’re delighted to recommend a new hub in Crewkerne. There are over one hundred hubs open across the country and when it opens, the Crewkerne banking hub will provide a vital service for the local community and high street.”

Adam Dance, Member of Parliament for Yeovil commented: “I’m delighted that Crewkerne has been recommended for a shared banking hub following strong community calls for better access to cash services. This is fantastic news for residents and local businesses, ensuring essential banking services remain available to everyone.

“Banking hubs provide a vital lifeline, especially in rural areas like ours, where high street bank closures have left many struggling to access the services they need. I look forward to seeing the hub set up and will continue to champion fair access to banking for all.”

Anyone can contact LINK at this website: www.link.co.uk/initiatives/bank-branch-closures/Additionally, to check for your nearest free access to cash point, you can download the app or visit the Cash Locator tool here: www.link.co.uk/consumers/locator/