Dorking banking hub opens as council seeks permanent site

To protect in-person financial services, a banking hub has officially opened in Dorking. The establishment of this hub aims to address the ongoing closures of high street bank branches, providing essential financial support to local residents and businesses.

Currently, the banking hub is located within the Pippbrook building on Reigate Road, which houses the Mole Valley District Council. Customers of all major banks can withdraw and deposit cash here, and can have face-to-face meetings with representatives from some banks on specific days of the week.

This banking hub is the second such facility in Surrey and is designed to preserve in-person banking services. The council has stated that it is currently searching for a more permanent location for the banking hub, indicating a long-term commitment to the service.

The banking hub is open weekdays from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm GMT, where customers can check balances and pay bills. HSBC, Barclays, Santander, and NatWest customers can enjoy additional services on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, respectively. Lloyds services are also scheduled to launch on Fridays, further expanding the hub's capabilities.

Paula Keay, Mole Valley’s Cabinet Member for Sustainable Economy, stated: "We know that the importance of face-to-face banking services and cash cannot be underestimated for local businesses and residents, and the closure of bank branches has created a significant gap in local services. The banking hub will provide a valuable counter service for customers’ financial transactions, which will be handled by professionals from different banks, ensuring that anyone who uses cash or cannot access online banking can receive high-quality banking services." Currently, Surrey has two banking hubs in Dorking and Haslemere, with a third planned for Caterham, demonstrating a growing network of accessible financial services.