Town without bank to have new access to banking services

A new banking hub in a town that was left without any banks is taking shape. The new hub has been created at a former PR Gibbs and Co office on Market Street in Westhoughton and will provide a range of financial services. This marks the culmination of long running efforts to bring banks back to the town.

Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, said: “I have to say of course a local resident, Lesley Monks, has really been the driving force behind all this. “We’ve been having talks about a banking hub, getting emails about getting about it but that lady really got in there and got the Cash Access people to say a banking hub was coming to Westhoughton. The town had previously been left with no banks at all (Image: My Westhoughton) “So, we really owe her a big thank you”.

He added: “Hopefully people will use it because as with anything else like this, if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it. “We’ve seen a lot of new business coming to Westhoughton recently and this had been an empty building until now. The space had previously been an empty office (Image: My Westhoughton) “But like most empty buildings in Westhoughton it hasn’t stayed empty for long!” The town had been left with no banks at all and only two post offices after the last branch of Lloyds Banks closed on Market Street in 2022.

This wave of closures around the country also saw Horwich left with no banks at all after NatWest closed in July of this year. Banking hubs help people access service.