The banking hub will be temporarily located in The Welfare on Brecon Road in Ystradgynlais until a permanent home can be found for the hub in the town.
Customers of all major banks can visit the hub any weekday between 9am-5pm to carry out regular cash transactions including cash withdrawals and deposits as well as checking balances or paying bills.
Additionally, the hub also offers a community banker service where customers can talk to their own bank in a private space about more complicated issue on the day their bank is in the hub. This is on a rota system, with Barclays on Mondays, Santander on Tuesdays, Lloyds on Wednesdays and HSBC on Thursdays.
It is understood that NatWest are considering taking the slot on Fridays, subject to negotiations.
Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK: “I’m happy to announce that we have opened the new banking hub in Ystradgynlais, giving local residents renewed access to cash and in-person banking services. The hub is available for everyday banking transactions every day of the week, and for more specific or complex enquiries, a community banker will be on-site to assist on designated days.”
Ystradgynlais has been without a bank since September 2023 when Lloyds left the town, prompting a two-year campaign for a banking hub.
Although the regulator – LINK, rejected an initial request for a banking hub made by David Chadwick MP, they later changed their mind following an appeal launched by the Welsh Liberal Democrats.
David Chadwick contested several aspects of data that had been used by the regulator and collected evidence from businesses, charities and clubs across the town on what impact the lack of cash services was having on them.
Thanks to these testimonials, alongside signatures collected by the party, Chadwick was able to convince the regulators to approve the hub.
Today, at the opening of the temporary hub, David Chadwick and Jane Dodds MS presented a Ystradgynlais RFC Rugby jersey to the hub.
Commenting at the event, Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said: “Submitting the request for this banking hub was one of my first acts as your new MP and something I had campaigned for long before being elected.
“I’m delighted that the hard work we have put into this campaign has paid off and the town and wider area will be able to benefit from having banking services restored.
“I’d also like to particularly thank Ams from The Old Temp Fish Bar, who helped me gather evidence from other local businesses for the appeal case.
“I’d also like to say a massive thank you to everyone in the community who backed the campaign, this is a win for the whole town.”
Adding her comments Lib Dem Senedd Member Jane Dodds MS said: “I’m delighted that we have been able to deliver such a vital project for Ystradgynlais after two hard years of campaigning.
“I’d like to thank all the local residents, businesses and clubs who supported our campaign, signed our petitions and provided us with the evidence we needed to make the case for the regulators.
“It goes to show that when you really fight for something, you can achieve positive changes.”
