A TEMPORARY banking hub will be set up in North Berwick before a permanent home is found for the facility, it has been confirmed. 

In June, Bank of Scotland announced that it would be closing its North Berwick branch on February 19, 2025, leaving the town without a bank.

Following the announcement of the closure, a number of local representatives called for a banking hub to be set up in the town. 

Now, it has been confirmed that an interim hub will be set up in North Berwick, but a location has yet to be confirmed. It will open in the first quarter of 2025. 

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Why does a temporary location for a banking hub have to be set up in North Berwick? 

A temporary home for the banking hub is essential in North Berwick's case because the process of finding the correct property for a permanent banking hub and setting up the facility up can take up to 12 months, but the town's last bank is set to close in just three months' time.

A facility in most cases has to have planning permission for the change. 

Newly introduced regulations announced in September mean that Cash Access, which runs the banking hubs, is required to have a temporary facility in place until a permanent one opens in the town. 

In other locations where Cash Access has temporary hubs, they have been in local libraries, community centres or even a restaurant.

Who owns the banking hubs and how do they run? 

According to the Post Office's website, the hubs are recommended by LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, which independently reviews a community based on criteria, including number of shops, transport links and deprivation.

LINK will assess an area following the confirmation of a bank closure or through a community request.

Recommendations are then delivered by Cash Access UK, a not-for-profit organisation which was established last year and is owned and funded by nine major banks.

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From the day a hub is recommended, it typically takes about 12 months to open.

In locations where it proves difficult to find a suitable property, Cash Access UK can open temporary hubs, providing all the same services and by the same team. This gives more time to secure a permanent home for the hub and gives that community access to important services without a need to travel.

Customers of any bank will be able to visit the shared space to carry out regular banking transactions, including withdrawing and depositing cash, paying bills and making balance enquiries.

Cat Farrow, customer and strategy director at Cash Access UK, said: "While we progress plans for the permanent home for a new banking hub in North Berwick, we will be looking to open a hub in a temporary location so customers can continue to access cash and banking services.

"This will provide all the same services, just in a temporary home."