With residents in North Greenford and Northolt no longer having access to in-person local banking services, the MP for their area James Murray has joined forces with Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West to campaign for their constituents to get a Banking Hub.
In 2022 there were four banks open in South Harrow with Nationwide, Santander, Barclays and Lloyds having branches.
Mr Murray, the MP for Ealing North has raised concerns over what has happened to banking services in the area. Last month, Barclays, the last remaining bank on the high street in South Harrow closed its doors.
The campaign for a South Harrow Banking Hub follows the launch in June 2023 of Acton’s Hub which was the first in London. The Hub, which provides a shared banking space at The Oaks shopping centre. offers everyday banking for personal customers of most of the major banks and building societies.
Banking Hubs were originally trialled during the Community Access to Cash pilots in 2021. The success of the two pilots saw 10 major banks and building societies along with their trade organisation, UK Finance, to work to deliver more Hubs across the country by setting up Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company.
James Murray, MP for Ealing North said: “As more and more services go online, we must not forget about people and businesses who still need face-to-face banking services. Many of the people I represent in Northolt and North Greenford relied on bank branches in South Harrow, and I know a new banking hub would make a big difference to them.”
Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West added: “Lloyds and Barclays were the last remaining national bank branches in South Harrow and their closures will marginalise a significant number of people in this community. Hundreds of residents have signed my petition because they actively chose to bank at four of the big banks that have now left South Harrow and don’t want to wait in huge queues in the Town Centre. A bank hub provides an opportunity for all residents to get in touch.”
Local residents can sign up to the campaign at: www.jamesmurray.org/bankinghub
