A new banking hub will open in Sidcup following a successful community campaign led by Louie French MP, local Conservative councillors, and high street businesses.
The local community's request for a banking hub in Sidcup after the closure of several local bank branches was today approved by LINK, the UK's cash access and ATM network. Sidcup Partners, local Conservative councillors Cheryl Bacon, June Slaughter and Richard Diment, and more than 300 residents supported the campaign.
The new banking hub will ensure people and businesses can access face-to-face banking services in Sidcup. It will provide traditional bank branch services, including withdrawing and depositing cash, making bill payments and carrying out regular banking transactions.
Post Office employees will staff the hub's counters. A community banker will also advise customers on complicated financial matters. The banks will work on a rotating basis, so staff from different banks will be available on different days.
Sidcup is one of 163 places in Britain to be recommended as a banking hub following the closure of Barclays, HSBC, and Natwest. Lloyds has also announced its branch is closing but has yet to close. Locally, Welling was one of the first places to open a new banking hub following a campaign by Louie French MP, local councillors and traders.
Cash Access UK will deliver the new hub. They have started their search for a location in Sidcup today. It will likely open within a year.
Louie French MP (Old Bexley and Sidcup) said: "Together with local businesses, residents and councillors in Sidcup, I've been working to secure access to banking services locally after the closure of many branches in recent years.
"I'm delighted that Sidcup High Street will soon be home to a Banking Hub. We've already seen the difference it can make in Welling, especially for elderly and vulnerable residents who rely on in-branch support.
"I am grateful to Link for their work and look forward to working with Cash Access UK and the wider community to open the new hub as soon as possible."
