A MEMBER of the Senedd has backed a call for a banking hub to be created in Denbigh after a series of branch closures.

Llŷr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales, said residents have been left “without access the banking services they need” after the town was left without a single high street branch.

The politician has put his weight behind a call from the Plaid Cymru group on Denbighshire County Council for the creation of a new banking hub.

HSBC, Halifax, NatWest and Barclays have axed their Denbigh branches in the last few years, which reflects a pattern seen throughout Wales and the rest of the UK.

A wave of branch closures across the UK have led to banking hubs being created so that people can access essential banking services.

A new banking hub was opened in Prestatyn in December 2023.

The idea for these hubs was developed by the UK’s cash access and ATM network, LINK.

They operate similarly traditional bank branches but spaces are shared and include  a counter service operated by Post Office staff.

Customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments, and carry out regular banking transactions.

They also provide free ATMs, and cashback without purchase.

For dealing with more complicated issues they have private spaces where customers can speak to a staff member from their own bank.

These banks work on a rotating basis. This means staff from different banks are available on different days.

Mr Gruffydd said: “The exodus of banks from the high street in Denbigh has left many people in the town and the surrounding area without access to the banking services they need.

“Local people should not be forced to travel for miles to carry out ordinary banking transactions.

“Though it is true to say that there has been a shift to more people using digital banking services, there are still a lot of people who struggle to do that – especially older people.

“It should also be remembered that a lot of independent retailers rely on cash transactions.

“That is why I am supporting the call from the Plaid Cymru group on Denbighshire County Council for the creation of a new banking hub in Denbigh.”

Cllr Delyth Jones, leader of the Plaid Cymru group on Denbighshire County Council, said: “On behalf of the Plaid Cymru group on the council, I would like to thank Llŷr Gruffydd for supporting our call for a brand new banking hub in Denbigh.

“Support for the creation of a banking hub in the town is gaining traction, and I urge LINK to pay heed to this and to rethink its previous refusal to create one.

“We have seen Prestatyn get one last year and it is only right that a town the size of Denbigh gets one, too.”