Nairn justifies banking hub says Highland MSP — despite LINK knockback
THE prospect of a banking hub being set up following the closure of Nairn’s last bank is being pursued by a Highland MSP — despite an immediate setback.
Tim Eagle has written to Link calling for banking hubs to be set up in Nairn and Dingwall following the closure of their last remaining branches.
The Highlands and Islands MSP said the imminent closure of the Bank of Scotland branches will be “disastrous” for residents and businesses across the Highlands.
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Mr Eagle has written to Link, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, urging the organisation to implement a banking hub in each of the two places as soon as possible.
He has raised concerns after Link said, in an email to Mr Eagle, that new banking services were NOT needed in Nairn, Gairloch or Tain, but acknowledged a gap in cash access in Dingwall that would cause a “significant impact for the community”.
It comes after the Bank of Scotland announced that its Nairn, Gairloch and Tain branches would close in January, while its Dingwall branch would shut in March.
Similar to a traditional bank, but available to everyone, a banking hub would provide a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular transactions.
In addition, there would be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy.
The banks work on a rotating basis, with staff from different organisations available on different days.
Scottish Conservative shadow rural affairs secretary and Highlands and Islands MSP Tim Eagle said: “The closure of these Bank of Scotland branches is a huge blow to the Highlands.
“It’s disastrous for places such as Nairn and Dingwall not to have face-to-face banking, particularly for groups such as the elderly, and businesses across a variety of industries.
“That is why I have written to Link calling for an urgent review to take place into the need for having banking hubs in both towns of this size.
“Both Nairn and Dingwall are thriving towns that would clearly meet the demand and benefit from a banking hub, which would also work as a regional hub for the surrounding villages.
“These hubs are not only vital for residents and businesses, but they also play a key role in revitalising our high streets, bringing footfall back to town centres, and repurposing unused buildings for community benefit.”
LINK’s letter to Tim Eagle MSP
Dear Tim,
LINK is the coordination body that carries out assessments when there is a change to the level of cash access in a community and recommends new services when required.
We’re getting in touch to let you know that we have completed several cash access assessments due the closure or reduction in hours of the following banks:
The Bank of Scotland Branch located at High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9HL.
The Bank of Scotland Branch located at Bank Brae, Gairloch, IV21 2BE.
The Bank of Scotland Branch located at 73 High Street, Nairn, IV12 4BS.
The Bank of Scotland Branch located at Tower Street, Tain, IV19 1DY.
We’re sharing with you what we found in the Cash Access Assessment Outcome, a full version of which can be found here: http://www.link.co.uk/our-assessments.
This tells you how we did each assessment and what we have decided, as well as what to do if you do not agree with our decision. It is important that you read this carefully.
Summary – Dingwall
We agree that there is a gap in cash access services available in the local area that causes a significant impact for the community.
We think the local area needs access to a cash deposit and a cash withdrawal service.
We think the new service should be provided in the following location: Dingwall
We think as a minimum the service should be:
A New Assisted Cash Service
Summary – Gairloch, Nairn, Tain
We did not find any gap in the cash access services available in the local area that causes a significant impact for the community.
We are not recommending any new services in the local area. We recognise that this may be frustrating, but please be assured that we have followed a detailed regulated process to understand the cash access needs in the community.If you are unsure about how to deposit or withdraw cash locally, please use our Cash Locator tool to see what options there are.
There is a 28-day window in which to appeal our decision if you feel we have got it wrong.
You will need to tell us why you think our decision is wrong and provide us with new information that you think we have missed, and that would affect our original decision.
Yours sincerely,
Link Scheme Ltd