Stone's new banking hub meets with approval
'We haven't had a branch in Stone for quite a long time now, so we usually have to go to Stafford."This is just so nice in the high street, wonderful. I was given a seat because there was a queue to see the Barclays representative and even offered water and it was wonderful."
The last branch of a high street bank in Stone closed in 2024.The canal town has had a temporary banking facility at the Frank Jordan Centre for the past twelve months but numerous customers said they were delighted with the new location.Julie Johnson was there to bank money collected by the Parent Teacher Association at a local school.'We thought we had nothing and now we've got somewhere where we can do everything,' she said.'People want to see face-to-face interactions and still people want to see bankers from the different banks,' said banking hub operator Vik Puri.He said it took a year to get the hub ready to open.Banks were still important in people's lives, Mr Puri added, saying "specifically vulnerable people, those who can't drive, those who don't want to go to another town".'The community is really loving us here, we've had a good response."
Local businesses hoped the new facility would also increase the footfall into the town.Marg Walker, from the Artisan Boutique across the road from the new hub, described it as amazing.'It should bring people into the town and be good for all businesses,' she said.
The banking hub, owned by not-for-profit company Cash Access UK and operated by the Post Office, is open from 09:00 to 17:00 on weekdays.The hub can be used to pay in and withdraw cash/cheques on any week day, but customers can only book appointments with their respective bank consultants on their allocated day.
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