Newcastle Building Society is piloting the use of a OneBanx kiosk in its Hexham branch, making it easier for locals to deal with the impact of bank branch closures.
The kiosk uses Open Banking technology to let anyone deposit or withdraw cash from any bank. It’s free to use and open to everyone – not just our customers.
Since 2015, more than 6,300 bank branches have closed across the UK, leaving many towns without local cash services and leading to growing financial exclusion.
Hexham has lost several bank branches in recent years, with more set to close later this year. High street traders, in particular, have complained about the impact of these closures.
Amy Brown, owner of Hexham Sweetie Jar
“Barclays closed down a couple of years ago. I had to switch to using the Post Office to carry out my personal and business banking, but it was often really busy, with long queues, and I couldn’t always do everything I needed, especially for the business. The OneBanx kiosk has been a gamechanger. It’s so easy to use, quick, and I can deposit coins as well as notes, which is really helpful for a shop like mine. Hexham is a cash-friendly town. People still like to use cash and businesses like mine want to be able to accept it. The kiosk means we can do that easily. It’s reassuring to know that there’s somewhere convenient in town where we can continue to do our banking properly.”
Stuart Miller, our Chief Commercial Officer said: “We’re committed to improving local access to financial services and our branches are at the heart of that place-based approach. We think creatively about what each community needs and how we can play a role in supporting our high streets.
“We’re delighted to be piloting the service in Hexham – free to use for all, whether people are customers of ours or not.
“Having easy access to basic cash services is vital in busy towns like Hexham, supports small businesses, the local economy, and creates long-term value for members and the wider community.”
Download the press release (PDF, 151kB).
