Rupa Huq given sneak preview of premises in the Oaks
Rupa Huq gets a look inside the new banking hub
April 25, 2023
The much-delayed opening of a Banking Hub in Acton is now scheduled for this June.
Originally meant for a launch at the end of 2021, the venture has been stalled due to issues with finding a suitable unit and the need to iron out details with the lease.
Recently, Ealing Central and Acton MP, Rupa Huq, who has lobbied for the opening, was given a sneak preview of the premises it will occupy in the Oaks Shopping Centre on the High Street
The hub will be shared banking space operated by all major players in an area where the last bank in town has departed. Acton will be the first banking hub of its kind in London with Brixham, Devon having opened in 2022. Banking hubs were trialled during the Community Access to Cash pilots in 2021. The success of two pilots led to 10 major banks and building societies joining forces to deliver more Hubs across the country by setting up Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company.
The Hub in Acton will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of the major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions, Monday to Friday. The Hub will also offer a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own banking provider about more complicated banking issues. The Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different banking provider available on each day of the week.
In Acton this will be:
Monday - NatWest
Tuesday - Barclays
Wednesday - Lloyds
Thursday - Nationwide
Friday - Santander
Visitors to the site also included Raghu Narula, MD of Customer Engagement at NatWest, Gareth Oakley, Chief Executive of Cash Access UK, and local resident Maire Lowe who were shown around the site to see how the building work is progressing. It is envisaged that the Hub will open its doors to the public in June.
Raghu Narula said, ““Cash remains an important part of the service that we offer to customers and communities across the UK. We work closely with Cash Access UK and the wider industry to ensure that cash remains widely accessible not just for our customers – but for everyone. We’re looking forward to providing a shared service to the people of Acton and the continued rollout of hubs across the UK to meet the needs of communities.”
Vacant units in the Oaks Shopping Centre
Gareth Oakley said, “Acton will be the first Hub to open in a busy city location. We’re really looking forward to the Hub becoming part of the community and supporting local people and businesses. Having access to cash services is vital for millions of people around the UK, particularly in challenging financial times. Seeing the impact of the existing Hubs is a reminder of how important these services are – from cash transactions at the counter to the knowledge and support of the community bankers.”
Rupa Huq MP added, “The level of curiosity from the passing public during the time we were there underlines just what a much-needed service this is. When one by one bank branches withdrew from Acton the ghost premises left behind made for a sad site. With a fruit sand veg retailer now in the ex Santander and what looks like signs of life with renovation underway in what was Nat West, I’m hoping that the development of Acton bank hub spells a revival of Acton which is clearly on the up.”
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