Royal Wootton Bassett's new banking hub opens after branch closures

Ashwin and Rita Patel run the new banking hub in Royal Wootton Bassett

A new banking hub has opened in a town which has been without a branch of any bank for 15 months.

Royal Wootton Bassett's banking hub is run by the Post Office, which is next door, on the High Street.

The town lost its last remaining bank in December 2022. The hub will have a community banker from a different bank every day from Monday to Friday.

Ashwin Patel runs it and said customers "are pleased that we have some sort of banking service in the town again".

The hub is run by the Post Office, which is next door on the High Street

The town was nominated by Cash Access UK to have a hub after losing all of it's bank branches.

NatWest, Halifax, Barclays, Lloyds and HSBC will be represented one day a week at Royal Wootton Bassett's banking hub.

Cash Access UK is a not-for-profit organisation funded by a number of major banks to open hubs in places where they are most needed.

Melissa Whittaker from Cash Access UK said about 40 hubs had opened across the country under the scheme.

The town crier and mayor attended the official opening

Mr Patel said he was keen to be involved when he heard about the plans.

"As soon as they announced there would be a banking hub in Royal Wootton Bassett, I expressed my interest," he said.

"It's probably something like 18 months from when the banking hub got announced to where we are today. So it's been a long journey, but certainly a very enjoyable and challenging one," added Mr Patel.

Debbie, Jane and Lorna said the hub is a "fantastic" addition to the town

Locals have welcomed the hub and believe it will be a useful addition to the town.

Jane said: "I absolutely love it because I don't have internet. It's lovely to come face-to-face. When Lloyds went, we were lost.

"It's going to bring people back to the town."