New scheme to improve cash access is launched in Burslem
It's one of eight communities in England trialling different initiatives
New schemes testing out ways to boost access to cash within communities, which could eventually be rolled out more widely across the UK, have gone live at eight locations in the England, including in Burslem.
ATM and bank branch closures, as well as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, have sparked concerns about the future of cash, although the UK Government is planning to legislate to protect it.
The locations involved in the Community Access to Cash Pilots (CACP) schemes are, within England, Botton Village (North Yorkshire), Burslem (Staffordshire), Lulworth Camp (Dorset), and Rochford (Essex); within Northern Ireland, Millisle (County Down); within Scotland, Cambuslang (South Lanarkshire), and Denny (Falkirk); and in Wales, Hay-on-Wye (Breconshire).
Each community is trialling different initiatives.
In two of these locations, Cambuslang and Rochford, new Post Office "bank hubs'' have been set up, with dedicated rooms where customers can see staff from their own bank.
The hubs will offer access to basic banking and cash withdrawals and deposits through a counter operated by the Post Office.
They will also provide access to face-to-face banking services, provided by those banks which have the most customers in each area.
As well as bank hubs, other initiatives being trialled include widespread cashback from local stores, restaurants and pubs, new free-to-use ATMs and digital education services.
Coronavirus lockdown restrictions have led to delays on certain elements of the pilots going live and as many stores have been closed, those behind the scheme said.
The pilots are trialling solutions which could be rolled out more widely across the UK. They will run until October 2021 and then will report back their findings.