THE MP for Bromsgrove is calling for a permanent banking hub in the town following the planned closure of two high street branches.
Bradley Thomas MP’s call comes after the the announcement that the Lloyds branch will close on May 7 and the Halifax branch just a few weeks later on May 29.
The banks have cited an increased use in mobile banking services and a reduction in branch usage as the reasons for closure.
Following the announcements, both banks have promised to provide a community banker to support customers. However, Mr Thomas does not believe this is enough and has called for the creation of a permanent banking hub in Bromsgrove.
A Banking Hub brings Post Office cash services and community bankers together in one place, ensuring people can still bank face-to-face and access cash services too.
Ensuring residents can continue to easily access cash withdrawal services has been a top priority for the Bromsgrove MP, with Mr Thomas recently launching a survey to gather his constituents’ views on the use of cash.
It found that 57 per cent of respondents use cash daily and 91 per cent said they believe the government should protect the acceptance of cash as a form of payment.
Mr Thomas said: “With yet more high street bank closures, I believe there’s a strong case for a permanent Banking Hub to be set-up in Bromsgrove.
“The Post Office is working with Cash Access to open more Banking Hubs, and I’ll be making the strong case to them that they should be opening one in Bromsgrove.
“Lloyds and Halifax aren’t the only banks to have closed their Bromsgrove branches in recent years, and if we’re not careful Bromsgrove could become a banking desert and I’m not going to allow that to happen.
“I’ll be working hard in the weeks and months to come to ensure my constituents can continue to access face-to-face banking and vital cash services.”
