BANKING HUB OPENS IN CROOK
WITH many UK banks closing branches across the country, many people are being left without
essential banking services.
There is not a single High Street Bank operating anywhere in Weardale, Tow Law or Crook but
there is a solution coming. A new Banking Hub is about to open in what used to be Barclays Bank in
Crook Market Place. It will open tomorrow (March 14 th )
While the UK shifts to more digital services, many people still need or prefer to bank face to face.
And easy access to cash services is essential, too. For lots of communities, a Banking Hub offers a
convenient, shared solution that brings Post Office cash services and Community Bankers together in
one place.
Operated by the Post Office, a Banking Hub is an efficient alternative to a bank. It will bring in-
person banking services and face-to-face support where it’s needed, offering convenient, face-to-
face banking that offers everyday personal and banking needs, including bill payments, owned by
Cash Access and operated by Post Office in partnership with nine major banks.
Customers will be able to pay cash or cheques into your account, take out money and check your
available balance. Business banking will allow business owners to run and grow their businesses by
paying in cash or cheques, withdrawing money and getting change when they need it. Bill payments
are available so you can easily manage your household expenses by paying your utility bills, and
topping up your gas and electric.
You can get in-person help with your banking questions from Community Bankers. They’re
available on different days from banks such as Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, TSB and
others.
For lots of communities, a Banking Hub offers a convenient, shared solution that brings Post
Office cash services and Community Bankers together in one place. While they’re operated by Post
Office, Banking Hubs aren’t regular Post Office branches. This means services like posting letters and
parcels, insurance products, travel money as well as identity services like passports, aren’t available
in the hubs.
The Post Office in Crook is in a separate location for these services. Banking Hubs are usually
open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They are set up by LINK, after identifying areas where
people need cash and banking services. You’ll usually find them in places where bank branches have
closed.
Post Office is then brought in to run each Banking Hub site and provide important cash services to
the local community. And while it is generally believed that most people now only use cards and
payments by mobile phone, the reality is that £1.6bn is withdrawn from the Link network every
week – basically from cash points.
That’s cash in people’s pockets and in retailers’ tills. Around 5 million people still need cash every
day and therefore Link cash machines remain vital to communities and high streets across the
country. Consumers withdrew £79.5bn from LINK ATMs in 2024.
Link cash machines is not-for-profit. It is governed by an independent Board and its work is
overseen by several independent bodies and regulators. We all need cash at some point. Link makes
sure that every UK high street has good cash access and it also subsidises thousands of cash
machines in remote and deprived areas.
