Opening date for Northern Ireland’s first Banking Hub in Kilkeel confirmed

Cash Access UK, the not-for-profit company established by nine major high street banks to protect access to cash services, has confirmed that the new Banking Hub in Kilkeel at 47 Greencastle Street will open at 11am on Wednesday, December 6.

Kilkeel will be the first Banking Hub in Northern Ireland to open.

The Hub will offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions. It will also offer a Community Banker service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complicated issues, Monday to Friday, 9.00am - 5.00pm. Community Bankers will work on rotation, with a different bank available on each day of the week:

Monday – Barclays

Tuesday – Ulster Bank

Wednesday – Santander

Thursday – Bank of Ireland

Friday – Danske Bank

The Banking Hub will be opened by The Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Valerie Harte on Wednesday, December 6 at 11am.

The Hub in Kilkeel follows the recent enhancement by Cash Access UK at the Post Office in Holywood, where customers will now find a priority counter service, providing faster access to banking services. New Banking Hubs will also open next year in Comber (Down), Newcastle (Down), Portrush (Antrim) and Warrenpoint (Down) following community requests by Consumer Council Northern Ireland to LINK.

Gareth Oakley, CEO at Cash Access UK, said, “We are delighted to be opening a Banking Hub in the heart of the Kilkeel community. This is the first Hub to open in Northern Ireland and it will support local community, businesses and tourists with cash and vital banking services. With four new Hub recommendations, we are now beginning to look at potential sites and hope to open these next year.”

The Chairperson of Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, Councillor Valerie Harte added: “The closure of banks in Kilkeel and cross rural areas has had a huge impact on local businesses and the whole community. The Hub will ensure that customers of the majority of banks can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payment and carry out regular transactions.

“This Hub, which I’m delighted to officially open, will make a difference for customers and mean people won’t need to travel to do everyday transactions”.

Alan Knox, President, Kilkeel Chamber of Commerce welcomed the opening of the Hub. “This much needed banking facility will help our local community and businesses in facilitating day to day banking needs as well as the ability to deal face to face with banking representatives from selected banks.

"As the first Banking Hub in Northern Ireland, we wish Cash Access UK and the Post Office every success in bringing this service to Kilkeel.”