Aberdeenshire town Huntly to receive banking hub years after Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Clydesdale and TSB all shut
“Lifeline” banking services are set to be restored, years after a town lost its fourth and final branch.
Huntly is set to receive an in-person banking hub, according to cash machine network LINK.
The announcement came after an application by Theresa Lee, who was named Huntly Rotary Citizen of the year last December.
Banking hubs are a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone.
When open, it will 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 banking transactions.
In addition, there will 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 banks available on different days.
The new hub will delivered by Cash Access UK, who have launched a search for the right location for the hub, which a LINK spokesperson said is “likely open in 12 months’ time”.
Theresa said that, before the announcement, the owners of three separate locations expressed interest in hosting the banking hub.
In recent years, Huntly has lost a total of four bank branches: Bank of Scotland; Royal Bank of Scotland; TSB; and Clydesdale.
Huntly currently has a TSB service once a week in Orbs Community Bookshop, alongside visits by the RBS and Bank of Scotland mobile banks.
Theresa, also involved in recent success in establishing Huntly’s CCTV network, said customers withdrawing or depositing cash often face long waits in the town’s small and busy Post Office or have to take long journeys to Inverurie or Elgin.
Her bid for the banking hub emphasised the town’s strong economy and high proportion of elderly people as reasons why in-person banking was a necessity.
In 2023, Aberdeenshire Council found that Huntly has nearly twice the percentage of people aged 80 or over compared to Aberdeenshire as a whole.
Theresa said it was difficult for some elderly people to access digital banking, and those who cannot drive have to contend with long and tiring bus journeys.
The “vibrant” town also needs access to cash, she added, because of the wide range of shops and businesses on offer and significant investment through projects like Number 30 The Square and firms like Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky.
Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross said: “This is a hugely welcome announcement for Huntly and the surrounding area, which has become a banking desert since the town’s last branch closed in 2021.
“I’m delighted Link has confirmed the need for a hub in Huntly, which will be a great community asset, allowing in-person banking and advice.
“Banking services are a lifeline to many rural residents who use cash, both in Huntly and beyond, especially the elderly and businesses who are finding it increasingly impossible to manage their money because more and more barriers are being put in their way.
“A banking hub marks a significant step forward in safeguarding the financial well-being of our community here in Huntly.”
Adrian Roberts, deputy CEO at LINK, said: “We’re pleased to recommend this new hub in Huntly.
“Access to cash remains vital for millions of people across the country and the new rules that come into force today mean that people will be able to access cash on the high street for many years to come.”
