Knaresborough’s last bank to close on Monday
by
Feb 25, 2021
Halifax bank
Halifax bank of Market Square in Knaresborough

Knaresborough’s 15,000 population will be left without a bank on Monday when the final branch closes.

The Halifax said it was closing its Market Square branch because of changing customer habits.

The branch was meant to close in May but stayed open to support the town during the pandemic.

This decision means the nearest banks for townsfolk will be in Harrogate and Ripon, although they can withdraw money or check their balance, as well as pay in cheques and money, at the town’s High Street post office.

A Halifax spokesperson said:

“We have made the difficult decision to close Knaresborough on March 1 due to the changing ways customers choose to bank with us, which means the branch is being used less often.

“We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.”

News of the bank’s closure prompted 1,200 people to sign a petition to keep it open.

Kala Timson, who runs children’s shoe shop Stomp in the market place, said the closure would be a “big loss” to Knaresborough. She said:

“We don’t use that branch for the business but I use it for my personal banking. We now have to use the post office.

“It’s overstretched as it is and over the pandemic they’ve worked so hard but queues have been going down the street. It will affect an awful lot of people.”


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The Halifax cash machine will also be removed, leaving the town with only two other cash points in the town centre.

Harrogate Borough Council ran a consultation until January 7 to gather views on Knaresborough banking services. The results are yet to be published.

The outcome will inform discussions between the council, community leaders and banking providers.

Councillor Graham Swift, Harrogate Borough Council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources, enterprise and economic development, said:

“Sadly, we can’t stop them closing and we can’t promise anything in the future, but what we can do is put pressure on banking providers and show them that there is a need in the town.”