As I hadn’t seen anything since mid December I asked Town Councillors last weeks if they had an update on the banking hub for the town to replace the HSBC when it closes in June.

Ward Cllr Paul West said the Economic Development Team at the council were looking into it and had been involved in the setting up of the Cottingham hub. He said nothing was going to happen overnight and it could take up to a year because that’s how long it took to get Cottingham up and running. The timescale could depend upon the availability of a suitable property.

Town Cllr James Pink explained that the process was now being run by ‘Link’ who run the UK’s cash access and ATM network. Link have already agreed that there is a need in Pocklington for somewhere to deposit cash and that the Post Office is not currently suitable.

Deputy Mayor Cllr Roly Cronshaw said that town council representatives had met with ERYC officials at the beginning of the month about another matter and had been told that a Link representative would soon be visiting the town soon. The Town council will raise the matter with ERYC again at their next meeting.

The Link website lists 38 recommended banking hubs including Cottingham and Hornsea and 38 recommended Deposit Services including Pocklington.

Banking Hubs provide basic banking services including counter services run for the major banks by the Post Office, and dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank.

The new Deposit Services will provide consumers and businesses with convenient and accessible ways to deposit cash without having to visit a bank branch.
In summary Link have recommended that Pocklington should have a place to deposit cash but not a full Banking Hub with basic banking services.