WELLINGTON’S banking hub has officially opened in its new permanent home, the former Barclays Bank building on Fore Street, today (Friday, December 13).

Established in March of this year, the hub was introduced to provide residents and businesses with basic banking and cash services following the closure of Lloyds, the town’s last remaining bank.

The Cash Access UK banking hub was temporarily housed in the former district council community office at 30 Fore Street, supported by the Wellington Town Council, with a renewed lease in at the end of October before moving into the new permanent facilities at the former Barclays Bank premises.

A town councillor told the Wellington Weekly News that they’re pleased that the hub has found a permanent home but that its new signage may be misleading.

They said: “It is good to have the banking hub permanently settled and in a prominent location where it is easily visible for customers, and I hope that more people become aware of it and use its services.

“The only disappointment is that despite the council’s advice, they have used Post Office branding on its signage which is confusing residents.

“We definitely still need a Post Office back in the town centre, and it seems a nonsense that the banking hub is staffed by Post Office employees but will not offer Post Office services.”

The town council plan to use the now vacant community office space as a new reception and office suite which will be adapted in the New Year.