Proposals to open a banking hub in Ellon are now a step closer following the closure of the town’s last remaining branch.
Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross has been campaigning for a new facility, similar to the recently opened hub in Huntly, to be rolled out amid concerns over access to cash in the town centre.
In a response to a letter from Ms Cross, Link has revealed that a 12-week review has now started into the need for a banking hub in Ellon. The review will investigate how a lack of cash services affects people and businesses before “reasonable solutions” are sought.
Despite a population of more than 10,000 people, Ellon has been left without a bank following the closure of the Bank of Scotland, situated in The Square, in September.
In November last year, the town’s Virgin bank closed while the TSB on Bridge Street shut in 2022. Meanwhile, the Royal Bank of Scotland, also on Bridge Street, closed in 2018.
New Deer, situated 13 miles away, has also lost its last remaining bank following the closure of the village’s RBS.
Similar to a traditional bank, but available to everyone, a banking hub in Ellon would provide a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular transactions.
In addition, there would be private spaces where customers can speak to community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy.
The banks work on a rotating basis, with staff from different organisations available on different days.
Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon and Buchan, Harriet Cross, said: “I very much welcome the announcement that a review has started for a banking hub in Ellon, which is desperately needed following the closure of the town’s last remaining branch a few months ago.
“Businesses in Ellon across a variety of sectors including farming and retail rely on banking at a branch, as do many residents, who either cannot access or do not feel comfortable using digital banking.
“The hugely negative impact of not having a bank in the town centre is already being felt and is placing further pressure on the post office to help ease the situation.
“At a time when a banking hub has recently opened in Huntly, there is a very strong case for one to also open in Ellon, which has more than double the population.
“Due to the closure of New Deer’s RBS, Ellon residents are now being forced to travel to Bridge of Don or Inverurie which is completely unacceptable, especially for the elderly, given ongoing cutbacks in public transport.
“This is why I wrote to Link making the case for a banking hub, which would not only benefit Ellon but would be a regional centre of banking for surrounding villages.
“I hope Link can see the level of inconvenience that not having one is causing for everyone in the area and that we will see a banking hub coming to Ellon.”
In her response to Ms Cross, access to cash consultant for Link, Jen Lambert, said: “We are now doing a deeper review. This means we will look at how a lack of cash services affects people and businesses. We will work out what services are missing and suggest reasonable solutions.
“We will finish any review within twelve weeks, tell you what we have decided, and post the results on our website.”
