Birmingham MP Preet Kaur Gill welcomes the imminent opening following sustained pressure to restore face-to-face services

Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has welcomed the imminent opening of a new “banking hub” in Harborne after years of campaigning to protect face-to-face banking services on the high street.

The hub is currently being fitted out and is expected to open shortly, after Harborne lost a series of branches including Santander, HSBC, NatWest and Barclays. Residents repeatedly raised concerns about access to cash and support for older customers and local businesses as banks withdrew from the area.

“When banks started closing their doors on our high street, residents told me loud and clear that they were worried about losing access to essential banking services,” said Gill. “I was determined that Harborne would not simply be abandoned.”

A practical solution for the community

The MP surveyed residents, attended protests, wrote to banks and ministers and met directly with Cash Access UK to press the case for a permanent banking solution.

“The opening of this Banking Hub is the result of that sustained campaigning and the strength of feeling shown by local residents,” she said.

The hub will offer day-to-day services for customers of all major banks, with individual banks providing dedicated face-to-face support on allocated days.