Yarm banking hub opens more than two years after last bank closed

A shared banking hub has opened at Ashbrookes, 82A High Street, providing Post Office-operated counter services and private rooms for customers to meet community bankers; the town had been left without local banks after a series of closures and the last physical service ended on December 11, 2024.

A shared banking hub has opened in Yarm at Ashbrookes, 82A High Street, with services starting at 9am. The move follows a recommendation from Link, the UK's Cash Access and ATM network, after a community request identified a need for more cash services. Yarm had been without local bank branches after closures by several major banks, and the last physical service in the area ended on December 11, 2024. Local officials and campaigners had campaigned for restored access to cash and face-to-face banking. Key details: - The hub is located at Ashbrookes, 82A High Street, and will open from 9am. - A counter service will be run by Post Office employees where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash and make bill payments. - Private rooms will be available so customers can speak with community bankers from their own bank for matters requiring specialist help or privacy. - Banks will provide staff on a rotating basis, so different banks will be present on different days. - The town lost branches from Halifax, HSBC, NatWest, Lloyds Bank and finally Barclays; Barclays confirmed the end of its local service at Egglescliffe Community Centre on December 11, 2024. - Link said there are 186 hubs open across the UK; Stockton MP Matt Vickers led a petition, raised the issue in the House of Commons, and welcomed the hub's opening, while Link's chief commercial officer, Dr Chris Ashton, said many people still rely on cash and face-to-face banking. Summary: The new hub restores face-to-face and cash services to Yarm's High Street after more than two years without local bank branches and responds to community requests and local campaigning. Undetermined at this time.