A BANKING Hub is earmarked to open temporarily in Newquay’s main post office from mid March.

Cash Access UK will be delivering the facility at the East Street Post Office, which will be a shared banking space, similar to a traditional bank branch, but available to everyone.

The hub, when open, will consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank including Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC, Lloyds Bank, NatWest, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions.

There will be private spaces where customers of banks can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy.

They will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.

The proposed weekly schedule includes Lloyds on Monday, Barclays on Tuesday, no community banking proposed on Wednesday, HSBC on Thursday and Natwest on Friday.

Bank staff will be able to offer advice and support in the banking hubs and direct people to the departments that can sort out problems or resolve any complaints.

Councillor Joanna Kenny said: “It’s been agreed that our main East Street post office will host Newquay’s ‘temporary Banking Hub” from mid-March.

“This means each week, a major banks on most days will be staffing a banking counter position in the Post Office for normal banking transactions and cash services – and a contact to provide help on more complicated transactions such as mortgages, loans and pensions.

“It looks like a very sensible idea, good for customers and a welcome boost to our struggling town centre.

“I could do without that word “temporary” and like every other business in Newquay, their customers will be affected by the cost and lack of parking.”