Brechin's new banking hub will be open for business this week

The new premises at 3/5 Clerk Street, the former Bank of Scotland building, will be officially opened for business at 11am on Friday (November 3) by Angus MP Dave Doogan and Angus North and Mearns MSP Mairi Gougeon.

Set up by Cash Access UK, the organisation established to protect nationwide access to cash the Banking Hub will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, Monday to Friday.

The hub will also offers a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated issues. The facility will be open Monday to Friday between 9am-5pm and the Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank or building society available on each day of the week as follows: Monday - TSB, Tuesday - Royal Bank of Scotland, Wednesday - Santander, Thursday - Bank of Scotland; Friday: No community banker present.

Banking Hubs are being opened across the UK and are funded and supported by nine major high street banking providers: Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Danske Bank, HSBC UK Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group plc, Santander UK plc, TSB Bank plc and Virgin Money.

Brechin was chosen for a hub after LINK, the UK’s cash access and cash machine network, identified the need for enhanced cash deposit services following bank branch closures in the town.

Mr Doogan said: “I’m looking forward to opening the Banking Hub, it will be a lifeline to many residents especially to those who rely on cash and face-to-face banking. The new hub will have a positive impact on the town, serving both residents and local businesses.”

Ms Gougeon added: “I'm eagerly looking forward to the much-needed return of in-person branch banking services to Brechin with the opening of the new Banking Hub. The local connection and the sense of security provided by having your own branch services in town are deeply appreciated by many."