THE new banking hub in Newquay was officially opened on Friday.

Mayor Cllr Drew Creek cut the ribbon to unveil the hub in Bank Street. He stated the facility will be a “lifeline” for many.

The banking hub provides day-to-day banking services for customers of multiple banks including Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money between Mondays and Fridays from 9am to 5pm.

The facility has been launched by State industry body Cash Access UK and is operated by the Post Office.

The services available include personal banking where customers can pay in cash and cheques, withdraw cash, and check their balance. Business banking services include paying in cash and cheques, withdrawing cash and access change-giving services.

Bill payments facilities are also offered where customers can make utility payments and purchase top-ups.

There will be private spaces where customers of banks can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy.

They will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days, which will include Lloyds and Halifax on Mondays, Barclays on Tuesdays, HSBC on Thursdays and NatWest on Fridays. There is no community banker available on Wednesdays.

Newquay’s new banking hub was recommended following the closure of the town’s final bank branch. While the site for the permanent hub was being refurbished, a hub was opened at a temporary location in Newquay Post Office. The temporary location is now closed.

There are now eight hubs open across Cornwall, with another three planned for Camborne, Falmouth, and Launceston.

Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK, said: “I’m happy to announce the opening of our Newquay hub in its permanent home, ensuring crucial access to cash and face-to-face banking services for residents and businesses across the community. Customers can visit on any day of the week for their everyday banking transactions, and if you have a specific or more complex enquiry for your bank, a Community Banker will be there to help on the day they’re in the hub. A huge thanks to Newquay Post Office for hosting us while we searched for the permanent home.”

Cllr Creek said: “After a few years where the name felt more like a hopeful memory than a reality, I’m delighted to say we are truly putting the ‘bank’ back into Bank Street.

“This hub will be a lifeline. It’s where you can deposit a week’s takings from your surf shop, get face-to-face advice about a mortgage for your first home, withdraw cash securely, or simply have a conversation about your finances. It ensures that in our increasingly digital world, nobody in Newquay is left behind.”