Wick banking hub ‘expected to open in June 2025’

Premises have still to be identified for a banking hub in Wick but it is expected to open next summer – around the same time as the town’s last remaining bank is due to shut.

It was announced earlier this year that the Bank of Scotland branch in Bridge Street is to close in June 2025.

Plans for a banking hub were unveiled at the same time, with the aim of being available to the public when the Bank of Scotland pulls out.

Banking hubs are owned by Cash Access UK – a not-for-profit company owned and funded by nine major banking providers – and are operated by the Post Office.

Questions about the timescale for getting the Wick hub up and running were raised at the monthly meeting of the Royal Burgh of Wick Community Council this week.

Vice-chairman Allan Bruce said he understood legal matters were still being dealt with and pointed out that the chairman, Allan Farquhar, had been liaising with Cash Access UK.

“It’s progressing, let’s put it that way, but we’re not there yet,” Mr Bruce said.

Community councillor Norma Craven said: “It’s now November, and June gets closer and closer and closer, and we don’t know what they’re negotiating on.

“They’ve got to renovate a building, make it fit for purpose, and get all the banks to get their own stuff in.”

A spokesperson for Cash Access UK said: “There are no further updates on the banking hub in Wick. The property search is still under way but is expected to open in June 2025.”

A page on the Cash Access UK website will give updates on the Wick hub.

At the September meeting of the community council, Mr Farquhar provided some details of how the hub will operate. This followed correspondence with Lesley Wilson of Cash Access UK.

Among other things, he was told that community bankers take it in turns to visit the hub so customers will find a different bank available each day of the week.

It was also confirmed that a cash machine will be in place and managed by LINK, the cash access and ATM network.

Bank of Scotland bosses sought to justify the closure of their Wick branch by saying many customers are now using a mobile banking app or internet banking.

Over the past six years Wick has lost its Royal Bank of Scotland, TSB and Clydesdale Bank branches as well as Virgin Money. After the Bank of Scotland closes its doors, the nearest high street banking outlets will be in Thurso.

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