There has been lots of concern from residents and businesses that Oxted is losing all its banks. Since May 2019, when Santander closed, Barclays, Lloyds and NatWest have shut, and HSBC is due to close “after June 2023”. In just over four years, Oxted will have been left with no full - service banks.
As a result, Oxted & Limpsfield Residents Group Councillor Ian Booth has been investigating what can be done. Two organisations have been tasked with ensuring that communities retain access to cash in towns where bank branches have closed. These are Link, best known as the largest operator of cash points in the UK, and Cash Access UK, set up by the major banks to ensure that cash continues to be made available on the High Street. In other words, Link identifies what the cash needs of a community are whilst Cash Access UK then provides “solutions” to these identified needs.
Link has been identifying High Street banking requirements across the country. It can then commission banking services to meet the whole community’s cash needs. This may include “banking hubs” which are shared quasi- bank branches with staff from the banks offering a range of banking services. Hubs also have a counter service operated by the Post Office, providing cash deposit and withdrawal facilities, plus other straight forward banking transactions.
Link has visited and reviewed Oxted and recommended that the town doesn’t get a banking hub but “will receive increased support for depositing cash”. To understand what this entails, Cash Access UK takes on the identified need from Link and converts it into firm proposals.
And this is where you can help. Cash Access has prepared a survey for residents and businesses to complete in order to help match its solutions with customer needs. Please complete and return the survey on this link click here
You are welcome to contact Cllr Booth at Cllr.Ian.Booth@tandridge.gov.uk if you have any queries or comments.
