By John Lamont MP
Access to cash services is not a luxury, it's a necessity for many people across the Borders.
Small businesses need to be able to make deposits quickly and easily. Elderly people are sometimes not able to use online or mobile banking. Vulnerable people often require the help of bank workers to manage their money.
Those are just a few examples of the kind of people who require in-person banking services, but many other local residents need ready and reliable access to cash too.
Unfortunately, big banks have treated loyal customers in rural and remote areas poorly for many years now. Branches have closed and lots of local people have been left without a banking facility.
I've been working hard to change this so that everyone has access to cash services locally. As a result of my campaigns, a new banking hub opened in Jedburgh, which has allowed customers of major high street banks to access cash services from Monday to Friday.
I have been seeking to persuade LINK, the national cash machine network, to provide similar facilities all over the Borders.
I recently launched a petition with the aim of pushing LINK to take action and open new banking hubs in Eyemouth and Selkirk. It received over a thousand signatures from local people.
I took the opportunity to present my petition in the House of Commons and used that chance to demand that LINK listen to local people in the Borders.
There is really no excuse for LINK to reject this reasonable request. It's very disappointing that they have not listened.
My colleague, Rachael Hamilton MSP, has also been campaigning for Eyemouth and Selkirk to receive a banking hub. If the current guidance does not allow for more local hubs to be set up, we believe the criteria that dictates where these facilities can be established needs to be changed.
I will keep the pressure up on LINK and continue to campaign regularly for better access to cash services in the UK Parliament and by every means at my disposal.
Should this issue concern you, or if you believe your local area is in desperate need of a banking hub, please get in touch with my office.
As your MP, I will continue to stand up for Borders residents who have been left with subpar banking services for far too long. This must change for the benefit of local people.
