Following news of the closure of Lloyds bank in Crowborough, Nusrat Ghani, the Conservative MP for Sussex Weald, secured an urgent meeting with Cash Access UK to discuss what can be done to set up a banking hub in the town.
As a result of previous closures of Barclays and Santander, Lloyds is the last remaining bank branch on Crowborough High Street. It was recently announced that it will be closing its doors in early June, leaving customers without the option of an in-person banking advice and services.
A banking hub would provide a location for people to access cash-based services such as withdrawal, deposits and cashing cheques, as well as host various major banks on rotation for more complex banking enquiries.
Nusrat convened a meeting with Cash Access UK, who set up and operate banking hubs to praise the successful example of the Hailsham banking hub and to discuss the process and timelines of setting up a facility in Crowborough.
Another company, LINK, is also involved in the process. They make the initial assessments and recommendations for new banking hubs. Nusrat has also made representations to them and a meeting has been confirmed to take place later this week to progress the matter further and to determine what more can be done to evidence that Crowborough needs a banking hub.
If you are a Crowborough resident or business that is impacted by the lack of options for an in-person banking service, please do share your views via Nusrat’s website www.nusghani.org.uk/bankinghubs, so that a strongest possible case can be put forward to LINK at the meeting to challenge their last assessment which concluded there is no need for such facility in Crowborough.
Nusrat Ghani said: “We are a unique, rural constituency and I know from correspondence and conversations with local residents that retaining access to face-to-face assistance with financial matters is still important to many of them.
"I am keen to continue working with the local community to ensure that we secure an alternative, walk-in facility for in-person banking services. I am pleased to have secured a meeting with Cash Access UK to gather more information on how we can follow the successful Hailsham example in Crowborough and I look forward to my upcoming meeting with LINK to put the case forward to them.
"Please help me evidence that we desperately need a Banking Hub in Crowborough and share your views with me via my website: www.nusghani.org.uk/bankinghubs."
