Lancashire officials urge faster rollout of banking hubs to revive high streets

The rollout of banking hubs designed to fill the void left by the decline of traditional high street branches is not happening quickly enough in Lancashire, according to county councillors. They argue that Lancashire needs more such hubs, which are opening nationwide, to maintain face-to-face services in town centres abandoned by banks.

To date, only two such facilities have been launched in the county, with another four in the pipeline. These hubs offer a range of banking services that were once commonplace on most high streets until the collapse in branch numbers began about a decade ago.

Unlike their predecessors, these new hubs serve all customers, regardless of their banking affiliation. They cater to individuals and businesses who need or prefer cash transactions, as well as ensuring banking access for elderly and disabled residents who may find transitioning to digital banking challenging or undesirable.

At a Lancashire County Council meeting, members unanimously agreed to form a working group to investigate how the establishment of banking hubs could be expedited in areas most impacted by the dismantling of the branch network.

County Cllr Matthew Maxwell-Scott, who proposed the initiative, commented: "With the exception, perhaps, of our largest towns, the bank is finished...but banking isn't – and this is a way of keeping it going.",