Dartmouth’s long-awaited new banking hub has been officially opened by local mayor, David Wells.

The hub on 5-9 Victoria Street (the former site of a Costa Coffee outlet) offers a counter service operated by the Post Office. As a shared banking space, customers of all major banks can carry out regular cash transactions every Monday to Friday from 9am-5pm.

The hub also offers a ‘Community Banker’ service where customers can talk to their own bank about more complex issues on the day their bank is in the hub.

Customers banking with HSBC can discuss details of their account on a Monday; those with NatWest can do so on Tuesday; Wednesday is allocated to Lloyds’ customers; Barclays has the Thursday slot and Friday is for Santander clients.

Residents have been calling for a banking hub ever since NatWest closed its Dartmouth branch in June 2018. It was the town’s last bank branch after Lloyds Bank closed in 2017, with HSBC doing the same the year before.

The hub was recommended by LINK, the UK’s cash access and ATM network, following a community request from former MP, Anthony Mangnall.

Cllr Mike Rowley said the hub will provide a boost both to local businesses and individuals. He also paid tribute to Mr Mangnall, saying he spearheaded Dartmouth’s request for a banking hub as well as facilitating the early negotiations.

“He has achieved a great service to our town,” he said.

Cllr Rowley also thanked business support service Cash Access UK for “appreciating Dartmouth’s need” and giving the town the hub.

“Now we have to make sure we justify that confidence by using it,” he concluded.