Sidmouth's banking hub is open for business.

The hub in the former Joules premises in Market Place is up and running from today (Thursday, March 28), offering a counter service operated by the Post Office, where customers of all major banks and building societies can carry out regular cash transactions.

Business customers can use the counter services to withdraw cash, make cash and cheque deposits and use other cash services including floats and coinage.

The hub is also offering a Community Banker service where a representative of each of the five main banks will be on hand on a different day of the week to talk to their customers. The days are:

Monday: NatWest

Tuesday: HSBC

Wednesday: Santander        

Thursday: Lloyds

Friday: Barclays

Banking hubs are operated by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit company owned and funded by 10 major banks and building societies, as part of a new collective approach to protecting access to cash. The company says digital or online solutions do not yet work for everyone all the time, and banking hubs can make a real difference to individuals, small businesses and the communities they live in.

Sidmouth's banking hub will hold an official opening ceremony, performed by the East Devon MP Simon Jupp, at 11am next Friday, April 5.

Mr Jupp said: “I am really pleased Sidmouth’s banking hub is now open. I enjoyed a tour of the hub earlier this week where I met with staff from different banks who will be on hand to provide banking services our town hasn’t had in years. They couldn’t wait to open the doors to the public and as a Sidmouth resident, I’m looking forward to being a regular customer. Congratulations to everyone involved in the efforts to get our banking hub open, it’s been a great team effort.”

Gareth Oakley, CEO of Cash Access UK, said: “I’m delighted to open the latest Hub in Devon and look forward to the official opening next week. Access to cash and face-to-face banking services is very important for millions of people and we’re pleased to be helping many communities with new services on their high street.”