A PERMANENT home for the Dawlish Banking Hub is now open for business.

The facility has officially opened at premises in Brunswick Place.

Town councillors have welcomed the opening of the ‘important new facility’ which will provide residents and local businesses with access to essential face-to-face banking services, supporting the high street and ensuring vital services remain within the community.

A spokesman for Dawlish Town Council, which campaigned with traders for a hub in the town, said: ‘Thank you to everyone involved in making this happen — a positive step forward for Dawlish.

‘We encourage residents to make use of the hub and support this valuable addition to our town.’

A temporary hub opened in August 2024 at Strand Hall and has been operating there until the new permanent location could be found.

Cash Access UK, which runs the country’s growing network of banking hubs, is a not-for-profit company set up by a number of UK banks and building societies to enable consumers and small businesses to access cash, deposit and basic banking services where they are needed across the UK.

Dawlish has been without a high street bank branch for some years and the banking hub has proved popular with customers who want to visit a branch in person.

The hub will be open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and customers are able to access a variety of services including withdrawing cash, depositing cash, deposit cheques, pay utility bills and check account balances as well as top up gas and electricity.

Registered business customers can also collect change.

A community banker is available and there is a private space for face-to-face talks about more complicated banking enquiries.

A member of staff from banking companies is available each day.

On Mondays this is Barclays, Santander on Wednesday, Nat West on Thursday and Lloyds on Fridays.