High street banking back in Clay Cross after six years

The hub will offer counter services for all major banks as well as consultations with staff from five of the largest

A Derbyshire town's new banking hub has opened, six years after the last individual branch closed.

The Clay Cross hub will offer a Post Office counter service and access to all major banks and building societies.

Based in Bridge Street, the hub will also have staff to discuss more detailed inquiries, with five major banks represented on daily rotation.

Customer Audrey Webster said without the hub she faced a 40-minute bus journey into Chesterfield.

Audrey Webster said the hub meant she could keep a closer eye on her money

The bank staff rotation is currently set up to host representatives from NatWest on Mondays, Barclays on Tuesdays, Halifax on Wednesdays, Lloyds on Thursdays and Santander on Fridays.

Ms Webster, 84, said it had already made a big difference.

"I have been checking with my bank to see how my account is going on and to see if I can do a direct debit switch into my savings.

"Without this hub I would have had to go into Chesterfield on the bus, which from where I live is an 80-minute [round trip]," she said.

Gerry Morley, Chairman of Clay Cross Parish Council, said the town was growing and needed this sort of facility

Gerry Morley, Chairman of Clay Cross Parish Council, said: "It is fantastic. We have been fighting for it since the last bank closed.

"Now we have it I hope people use it because it's a nice building with really friendly staff.

"Clay Cross is growing, with nearly 1,000 houses going up and it needs a place like this."

Lee Rowley, MP for North East Derbyshire, added: "I know the community is hugely excited by banking coming back to our town and I'm grateful to the Cash Access team for everything they have done to make it happen."

The hub has been managed by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company owned and funded by Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays Bank UK PLC, Danske Bank, HSBC UK Bank plc, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group plc, Santander UK plc, TSB Bank plc and Virgin Money.