Banking Hubs.

TheBanker

WillPS said:

TheBanker said:

Katiehound said:

A friend lives in Mablethorpe & the mobile bank from Lloyds (which was a very rare creature anyway!) has /will cease visiting. Closest banks are 15 miles away. My friend does not use the PO as it is situated in the local Co-op- no privacy & not knowledgeable staff.

I see that on the list (shown  above) it is showing a banking hub for Mablethorpe but in fact, like many of those listed they are searching for suitable premises. Unfortunately there the banking buildings have been sold off so it could be quite a while before they find a building with suitable access.

So, in reality there are not as many hubs (yet) as they would like you to believe!

As has been stated above, the Post Office only offer basic services - cash withdrawels and cash/cheque deposits. And they can show you your balance. Most of the transactions are done through their Chip and PIN machine using your debit card, the only exception being cheque deposits which need a paper paying in slip and are basically posted to the bank's processing centre to deal with. (They have a slightly different offer for Business customers)

This is correct, and it's also true of Bank Hub counters too. If you have an enquiry beyond 'withdraw', 'deposit' or 'balance' their only additional lever is to advise that you return when your bank's representative is available, if they have a presence at that hub (participation varies by location).

That's true. And I understand that if you go to see the bank rep with a simple query, e.g. cancel a Direct Debit, their first suggestion is to help you download and register their mobile app so you can do it yourself. Only if that's not an option will they do it for you. 

I think it would be really good if the Post Office staff could deal with a few more things. For example, it would be good if they could take copies of ID and certify them, to be passed onto the bank to deal with problems like frozen accounts or changing signatories. They wouldn't need access to the actual account as they'd just be verifying the documents were genuine and passing them on. 

[Deleted User]

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

WillPS

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

Why? Which of the 3 or 4 possible banking things you can do at any Post Office counter require privacy?

TheBanker

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

The banking hubs, which this thread is about, do have a seperate area to speak to your bank's rep (on the day that it's your bank's turn to staff the hub).

Post Offices do not need a seperate area. You do your cash deposits and withdrawels at the Post Office counter (which may be part of the shop counter). Do you really need to be taken to a private area to ask to withdraw £50 from your bank account?

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

Why? Which of the 3 or 4 possible banking things you can do at any Post Office counter require privacy?

My concern is lve seen older people asking for £100,£200 and having the money being handed over  when there's been other people standing inches from them. 
If your dealing with financial  matters you should be in a queue with people who want some cigarette or booze. 

WillPS

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

Why? Which of the 3 or 4 possible banking things you can do at any Post Office counter require privacy?

My concern is lve seen older people asking for £100,£200 and having the money being handed over  when there's been other people standing inches from them. 
If your dealing with financial  matters you should be in a queue with people who want some cigarette or booze. 

I'm not sure why convenience store customers are any more a risk than those who might be a short way behind in a branch queue or beside at a branch desk. Most modern bank branches are very open in design nowadays, there's not a great deal of privacy anywhere there unless you're taken to a side room, which wouldn't happen for a withdrawal.

If there's a concern about the risk of taking hundreds of pounds of cash out, the simple answer is don't. 

[Deleted User]

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

Why? Which of the 3 or 4 possible banking things you can do at any Post Office counter require privacy?

My concern is lve seen older people asking for £100,£200 and having the money being handed over  when there's been other people standing inches from them. 
If your dealing with financial  matters you should be in a queue with people who want some cigarette or booze. 

I'm not sure why convenience store customers are any more a risk than those who might be a short way behind in a branch queue or beside at a branch desk. Most modern bank branches are very open in design nowadays, there's not a great deal of privacy anywhere there unless you're taken to a side room, which wouldn't happen for a withdrawal.

If there's a concern about the risk of taking hundreds of pounds of cash out, the simple answer is don't. 

There are 2 local stores/PO in my area one as a PO counter at the back of the store with three regular staff and lve noticed most older people go there because your away  from the general customers who are usual  youths and people in a rush.
The other premises you got to wait in the queue with the general  customers and if you need a PO matters you got to wait while they find someone to serve you. Then when you do they generally  tell all and sundrie how much you are taking out. 
I personally  wouldn't  withdrawal cash if it feels unsafe but the older generation  do take their cash out in larger amounts because that how they do their business. 
Thank you for your opinion.

TheBanker

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

WillPS said:

[Deleted User] said:

Blue_Doggy said:

penners324 said:

I think they're just a gimmick. 99% of things that can happen in a branch can happen elsewhere (like a post office). So what's the use case?

Access to cash is a totally separate issue.

It depends what banking services one wants. The five post offices nearest to me (rural/semi-rural) have the post office tacked on to the shop service till at the front of the shop, and served by the same staff with some training in post office things. That’s ok for buying stamps or sending a parcel, but to discuss financial matters beyond that there’s no private area - and who wants to discuss private financial matters in front of a queue of neighbours?- and I very much doubt the shop staff are trained to give financial advice. 

 

A banking hub could provide properly trained bank staff and a private interview/consultation area.

This is my concern too. If you have a shop/post office counter they should be separate  from each other.

Why? Which of the 3 or 4 possible banking things you can do at any Post Office counter require privacy?

My concern is lve seen older people asking for £100,£200 and having the money being handed over  when there's been other people standing inches from them. 
If your dealing with financial  matters you should be in a queue with people who want some cigarette or booze. 

I'm not sure why convenience store customers are any more a risk than those who might be a short way behind in a branch queue or beside at a branch desk. Most modern bank branches are very open in design nowadays, there's not a great deal of privacy anywhere there unless you're taken to a side room, which wouldn't happen for a withdrawal.

If there's a concern about the risk of taking hundreds of pounds of cash out, the simple answer is don't. 

There are 2 local stores/PO in my area one as a PO counter at the back of the store with three regular staff and lve noticed most older people go there because your away  from the general customers who are usual  youths and people in a rush.
The other premises you got to wait in the queue with the general  customers and if you need a PO matters you got to wait while they find someone to serve you. Then when you do they generally  tell all and sundrie how much you are taking out. 
I personally  wouldn't  withdrawal cash if it feels unsafe but the older generation  do take their cash out in larger amounts because that how they do their business. 
Thank you for your opinion.

Years ago maybe. My mum's 72, not at all tech save (doesn't own a computer or smartphone) yet she rarely uses cash. When she does need cash the ATM at the supermarket where she shops is used. But household bills are paid by Direct Debit, and most other things by debit card. 

WillPS

They shouldn't be telling all and sundrie anything. You should tell them what you want, and other than telling you to insert your card, pop your PIN in they'll just get on with it.

I suppose you could pass a piece of paper with 'I'd like to withdraw £x please' and an envelope to the Post Office member of staff.

dgp1000

Completely pointless. They can’t provide the same services as a branch e.g. validate ID as they don’t have the necessary kit.