Banking hub is on its way – but location still not known

Moves to open a community banking hub could soon come to fruition.Cash Access UK, which opened a banking hub in the former Lloyds branch in Oakham two years ago, has its eyes on Stamford.Banking hubs allow customers from several major banks and building societies to do their everyday banking, maintaining local access to cash and banking services in communities that have lost bank branches.A banking hub opened in Oakham in 2024At a meeting of Stamford Town Council on Monday (June 29), Coun Richard Cleaver (Ind), who represents St John’s ward on South Kesteven District Council, was able to tell members: “SKDC has been approached by the official national provider of community banking hubs, who are looking for a venue in Stamford.“We have been able to respond positively to this request and hope to agree arrangements and have this in place very shortly.”A Cash Access UK spokesperson said: “The banking hub will open before the last bank in town closes and in the short term, this may mean the hub will open in a temporary location while we continue to work to progress a suitable permanent home. “A temporary hub will offer all the same services as a permanent one, allowing customers of all major banks to visit any weekday for their everyday banking transactions. If customers have a more complex enquiry for their bank, a community banker will be there to help on the day they’re in the hub.“We look forward to providing positive news on the hub opening.”Signs like this could go up in Stamford soon – but where?Among the few bank branches left in Stamford are Santander and Nationwide in High Street, while Lloyds has announced it will leave on October 13. A Barclays Local opens inside Stamford Town Hall in St Mary’s Hill on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, there are Post Office branches with banking facilities in All Saints’ Place and Sutherland Way, and there is a Melton Building Society branch in High Street.The district council owns several sites in Stamford, including the arts centre in St Mary’s Street.