BANKING could return to Dawlish as early as this summer, the organisation responsible for introducing new banking hubs has said.

But mystery still surrounds the location of the facility which is being introduced following the closure of all high street banks.

Cash Access UK, which is rolling out hubs has sent a ‘community engagement leader’ to spend a day in the town, and to neighbouring Teignmouth, as plans to provide much-needed banking services progress.

The company says the Dawlish Hub is due to open this summer.

But as yet, there is no confirmation of the location in either town.

MP Anne Marie Morris, who has been campaigning with national banking bosses for the return of basic banking facilities, has welcomed the progress.

She said she was ‘grateful’ the Community Engagement leader from Cash Access spent a day with the local teams involved, first in Teignmouth and then in Dawlish.

She said: ‘We will get there.

‘We made the case that communication with the community about what was going on and when was very important.

‘This was taken seriously.

‘We were able, between us, to identify a few more options for a location be that as the long-term hub or the short-term temporary site.’

There are now 34 Bank Hubs open across the country, including one in Brixham, which allow customers to withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, make balance enquiries and pay utility bills.

Counter service is provided by the Post Office.

Each of the main clearing banks are involved in the scheme and community bankers will work in rotation with a different bank available each day of the week, usually provided by banks with the most customers in the area, opening Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

As previously reported in the Dawlish Gazette and Teignmouth Post, Teignmouth is proving more problematic at finding a suitable location.

So there could be a temporary hub until a permanent home becomes available.

Cash Access UK has told Dawlish residents that the new hub will ‘provide the community with easy access to cash and banking services’.

A spokesman said: ‘There are a number of steps involved in opening a hub, and finding the right location is often the most time-consuming part of setting one up. We are working hard to find a suitable location and will keep the community updated with progress.

‘The Hub is due to open this summer.’

A representative from Cash Access UK will be at a Cost of Living event being held in Dawlish on February 28 at the Manor House from 2pm.

In Teignmouth, where the only remaining bank Lloyds is due to close in April, the team is working on exploring opening a temporary hub in Teignmouth until a permanent location can be found.