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Oct 2022

Last Updated: 27/10/2022

Community

Building society opens new branch in Knaresborough Library

by Vicky Carr

| 27 Oct, 2022

The town was without a bank for more than 18 months after the Halifax branch on Market Square closed in February 2021.

The official opening of of Newcastle Building Society inside Knaresborough Library

Banking services have returned to Knaresborough with the opening of a new branch of Newcastle Building Society.

The town has been without a bank for more than 18 months after the Halifax branch on Market Square closed in February 2021.

Now, Newcastle Building Society has opened a community branch in Knaresborough Library.

Its chief executive Andrew Haigh was in town yesterday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. He said:

“The feedback from residents and other businesses in the town has been fantastic and we’re looking forward to establishing a long and mutually beneficial presence in the town.

“We’re facing into a cost of living crisis which will impact every household budget in the country so I can’t think of a time when it has been more important for people to have access to the face-to-face financial services they need.

"Our members tell us time and again how much they value our branch network, and whilst so many banks are closing branches, we remain absolutely committed to the high streets across our region.

Knaresborough is the fourth community branch to be opened by Newcastle Building Society, following Wooler in Northumberland, Yarm in Stockton-on-Tees, and Hawes in Richmondshire.

As well as face-to-face financial services, the Knaresborough branch is expected to offer a OneBanx multi-bank transaction terminal by the end of the year. It will offer customers from all major UK banks a way to withdraw and deposit cash.

The building society worked alongside North Yorkshire County Council and Harrogate Borough Council to restore banking services to the town by opening its 31st branch.

To mark becoming part of the community, Newcastle Building Society has given grants of £2,000 to Orb Community Arts and £4,000 to Chain Lane Community Hub.

North Yorkshire County Council’s executive member for libraries, Cllr Greg White, said:

“The opening of a Newcastle Building Society branch in Knaresborough library has been welcomed in the local community. They already offer a community branch within Hawes library which has proved very popular with those who need access to cash, and is a great way of multi-purposing an already well-used building.

“The offer of financial services has significantly increased footfall into Knaresborough library and is encouraging new visitors through the doors.”

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