Author: prudhoeconservatives

A banking hub is coming to Prudhoe.

A protracted campaign since traditional high street banking services closed appears to have come to fruition.

Update 30/1/26

Update 19/1/26

A good meeting this morning with Cash Access UK representatives and local interested parties.

Looks like the facility will be in place within months.

As always I will keep people informed

On Wednesday 14/1/26 I was contacted with the below news-

Update 15/1/26

I have been in contact with the team today, including discussing possible locations in the front street area.

See a range of updates regarding this campaign highlighting the efforts made-

Check out this website news section. CLICK HERE

Good afternoon, 

 

I am delighted to share that Cash Access UK will be bringing a new cash solution to Prudhoe.

 

Following a recent review by LINK, your community has been recommended for a Banking Hub, which will be delivered by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company funded by the major high street banks. Our mission is simple: to ensure every community has access to cash and everyday banking services where they’re needed. 

 

Across the UK and Northern Ireland, we have already delivered more than 320 cash services, which are making a real difference to individual customers, small businesses, and their wider communities. To find out more about us and the work we do to improve access to cash, please visit our website. 

 

Because your banking hub has been requested by the community, we’ll be working at pace to open it within the next three months. Our teams will be out in the community imminently to start identifying a suitable location and meeting local stakeholders. 

 

A banking hub provides: 

 

  • A counter service for essential cash transactions such as deposits, withdrawals and paying utility bills that is available for customers of all major banks every weekday 
  • A community banker service, where customers can speak face-to-face with their own bank about more complex matters on the day their bank is in the hub. 

 

Banking hubs are needed asap dated Oct 2025.

https://www.postoffice.co.uk/bankinghubs

https://labour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Change-Labour-Party-Manifesto-2024-large-print.pdf   Page 35

https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/bank-accounts/labour-banking-hubs-next-parliament

Branch finder

https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/everyday-banking/banking-near-you.html

https://www.lloydsbank.com/help-guidance/everyday-banking/banking-near-you.html

https://uk.virginmoney.com/branch-finder/

https://www.natwest.com/search-results/locator.html

A senior Northumberland County Cllr is demanding that the Labour party accelerates its manifesto pledge made leading up to the general election which was held around 500 days ago 

County Cllr Gordon Stewart who represents Prudhoe South is a NCC Cabinet member said

‘Small local businesses are the lifeblood of our towns and villages, and are suffering directly and indirectly with the mass withdrawal of traditional banks from our high streets, it is putting additional stress on so many, both financially and on their time to carry out their work.

I am grateful to the banks who have retained a presence throughout Tynedale even in a reduced form, but banking hubs would be a great boost to so many communities’

He added ‘ I hear of residents travelling long distances, some on public transport to use a face to face bank out of County, and then they are spending money in that towns shops before travelling back to their home area, a double whammy for local shop keepers,

Every penny counts these days for residents or businesses. with utility prices increasing, National insurance contributions damaging business and the general outlook for the economy with unemployment fears becoming a reality’

 Cllr Stewart said ‘ Northumberland should be at the very top of the list of areas to have banking hubs, due to its rural nature, poor connectivity, along with an aging population who are not comfortable transacting  online’

Lloyds bank closure.(29/1/25)

The news broke on Wednesday 29/1/25

County Cllr Gordon Stewart, who represents Prudhoe South and is the Northumberland County Council cabinet member for looking after our communities, said: “This will impact upon the most vulnerable yet again in our society, not everyone can just jump onto a bus to travel to a city branch, nor confident enough to use telephones or the internet.

“If people travel to bank, they are likely to spend their money in that area and our local businesses will lose out,” he added. 

Pages: Page 1, Page 2

Barclays to retain face to face presence in Prudhoe – via Chron- 2023

Coun Stewart said: ““As our high streets are changing, and the way in which many bank customers conduct their business adapting, I am pleased that Barclays will retain a face-to-face service in the heart of the town, supporting the Prudhoe community.”

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/barclays-local-site-spetchalls-prudhoe-27614619

Barclays to close – Via Courant May 2023

Hearing the news about the closures, Cllr Gordon Stewart said: “I have been following details of bank closures nationally with great interest, I have asked for a meeting with a senior representative of the bank asap to see what provision there will be locally for our residents and businesses’

https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/23500865.barclays-close-branches-prudhoe-haltwhistle/?fbclid=IwAR3NRYVeHbWI6GTSDv5lCzpRkx5TNSLNCSe3j9x8tyRJ-o2IH5PmkftsqbE

Petition re bank closure – Courant – Feb 2025

Cllr Gordon Stewart said the closures will impact ‘the most vulnerable in society’.

“Not everyone can jump onto a bus to travel to a city branch, nor is confident enough to use telephones or the internet. 

“If people travel to the bank, they are likely to spend their money in that area and our local businesses will lose out.”

He also expressed concerns about vulnerable residents turning to loan sharks.

https://www.hexham-courant.co.uk/news/24899986.petition-launched-save-banks-hexham-prudhoe/