RESIDENTS in Bude are finally set to have a permanent banking location following the closure of its last bank.

Cash Access UK, the organisation set up to protect access to cash across the UK, has announced that the banking hub in Bude has opened in its permanent location at 1 The Depot, Lansdown Road.

The official opening will take place on January 9, at 11am, with the deputy mayor, Viki Herbert-Coulson set to attend to cut the ribbon.

Customers of all major banks can visit the hub any weekday between 9am to 5pm to carry out regular cash transactions including withdrawals and deposits as well as checking balances or paying bills. Additionally, the hub also offers a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank in a private space about more complicated issues on the day their bank is in the hub:

Bude's new banking hub was recommended by LINK, the UK’s ATM network, following the closure of the town’s last remaining bank branch.

This is the eighth banking hub to open in Cornwall, with three more in progress in Camborne, Launceston and Falmouth.

Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK said: “I’m happy to announce the opening of our Bude 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 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 thank you to the team at the Parkhouse Centre for providing us with a home while we searched for the permanent location.”