Alliance MLA Welcomes New Banking Hubs Set to Open in Newcastle and Warrenpoint
Alliance MLA Patrick Brown has welcomed the recent announcement by Cash Access UK regarding the establishment of four new banking hub locations in Northern Ireland.
In the South Down area both Newcastle and Warrenpoint were named as two of the new locations.
The move follows the opening of the first ever banking hub in Northern Ireland in Kilkeel this month which has been widely successful.
The banking hub initiative is headed up by Cash Access UK which aims to create community banking services for customers where local banking branches have been closed down.
Speaking on the introduction of the new banking hubs, Patrick Brown said: “I am delighted to see Newcastle and Warrenpoint added to the list of the new locations for banking hubs.
“I have worked alongside my colleague Cllr Jill Truesdale for several months on the banking hub in Kilkeel and believe this is an excellent concept to address branch closures across the constituency.
“Newcastle has been without a high street bank since 2021 and both Warrenpoint’s banks have closed in the last few years.
“It is crucial for people across our community to access local banking services and I am hopeful that the new banking hubs once opened will deliver this.”
Whilst most banking services have moved to digital use, there is still a significant demographic using cash for their daily transactions and reliant upon face-to-face services.
The banking hub concept allows customers from from various high street banks to access important services such as cash and cheque deposits, cash withdrawals, balance inquiries, utility bill payments, and gas or electricity top-ups.
The service is operated through the Post Office and depending on the hub there is often a rotation of community bank advisors from different banks.
