Acomb Banking Hub details requested if bank branch closes

Westfield ward Liberal Democrat councillor Andrew Waller has submitted the petition to Halifax Bank which was started in response to residents’ desire to save the Acomb branch, which is the last bank in Acomb.

The petition was launched earlier this year after Halifax announced plans to close the branch in January 2025. It has been signed by 1,126 residents to add weight to requests from local residents for information on exactly what services would be provided by any replacement Banking Hub.

Cllr Waller visited the bank’s Head Offices in Leeds on Thursday 12 September to meet with Regional Public Affairs Manager Liz Delahaye and present the petition. At the meeting he discussed the impact that the proposed closure will have on local residents, many of whom are not able to switch to online banking.

Many residents who signed the petition also added their own comments which should be considered in the development of the Hub, such as:

• “I cannot easily get to City Centre Branch. This branch is invaluable as is the only bank branch left in this area.”
• “Not all people are able to use internet banking and need people to talk to. This area has a large elderly population who don't have the internet.”
• “I and many of my family use this Acomb Branch regularly. The staff are extremely helpful and will resolve your queries, even unusual ones.”

Cllr Waller commented: “I’d like to thank everyone who signed the petition, and all the volunteers who helped to collect signatures. I hope that Halifax reflect on the comments that people have submitted and think carefully about what banking services will be left longer-term in our area.

“If the closure does go ahead, then we need to have clarity around what services can be provided locally to enable people to continue to have access to face-to-face banking services. There are plans for a ‘Banking Hub’ to be established in Acomb, at which counter services would be available, and I want to see these plans developed in consultation with the local Post Office, which already offers some banking services.

“There had been initial comments from LINK that there would be a drop-in during July to talk the community through what a replacement Hub would look like in terms of a bank counter, cash points, and all the services that can currently be accessed with the potential of additional ones in a new format.

“At my meeting with Liz Delahaye I was assured that if the branch closure does go ahead, the Banking Hub will need to be up and running before that happens. It’s also crucial that cash machines both external and internal are available.”

Cllr Waller recently went on a ‘fact-finding’ visit to the Banking Hub in Knaresborough, operated by Cash Access UK, where he met with staff to find out more about the services on offer.

“The Knaresborough Banking Hub is encouraging, with customers able to access counter services during opening hours. And on each day there is a representative present from one of the major banks so that customers can get help and advice over and above regular counter services. I look forward to working with Cash Access UK, local residents, local businesses and the Post Office to help get a Banking Hub for Acomb off the ground.”