Wick’s banking future is about to change — but a lot of locals still aren’t quite sure what they’re getting.
With its last remaining high street bank branch set to close at the end of June, the Caithness town is just weeks away from opening a brand-new banking hub. It’ll be based in the old Royal Bank of Scotland building on Bridge Street, which has been shut since 2018. And while the project promises to bring vital financial services back to the town centre, some locals are still unclear on exactly what the hub will — and won’t — do.
Clearing the Air on a Key Confusion
A big part of the problem? People think they can only visit the hub on the day their specific bank is present.
That’s not true.
Lesley Wilson from Cash Access UK, which owns the hub network, has been trying to set the record straight. During a drop-in event at Wick library, she explained that although certain bank representatives will only be on site once a week, the hub itself is open five days a week for basic services.
“People can come in Monday to Friday, 9 to 5, and do basic banking — no matter who they bank with,” Wilson said.
One local even said he thought he couldn’t come in unless it was “his bank’s day.” That kind of thinking, Wilson stressed, is exactly what needs fixing.
Three Banks Confirmed for Face-to-Face Services
There will be more complex support too — but only on specific days.
Here’s the weekly schedule so far:
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Tuesday: TSB staff will be on hand
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Wednesday: Royal Bank of Scotland reps take over
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Thursday: Bank of Scotland offers help
These representatives will be available from 9am to 5pm to help with things like account queries, fraud concerns, or other issues that need face-to-face interaction with your bank.
Still, if all you want is to withdraw or deposit cash, pay a bill, or check your balance — you can do that any weekday.
A Familiar Face Brings Reassurance
For many in Wick, the change might feel like the end of an era. Since 2018, they’ve lost branches of RBS, TSB, Clydesdale Bank, and Virgin Money. Now, with Bank of Scotland pulling out too, it’s understandable people are feeling a bit unsettled.
But there’s one bit of continuity that’s helping folks feel a little more at ease.
Joy Jackson, who currently runs the Wick post office inside Poundstretcher, will also be the operator of the new hub. Locals know her — and trust her.
She’s not leaving the post office either. In fact, she’s printed out a sign that reads: “We are NOT moving.” She’s even recruited three part-time staff so she can manage both sites.
One customer at the drop-in event said, “Knowing Joy is going to be running the place — that’s a comfort. She knows what she’s doing.”
What You Can (And Can’t) Do at the Hub
Here’s what’s on offer daily at the hub:
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Deposit cash or cheques
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Withdraw money
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Pay bills
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Check your account balance
And just like at a regular post office, the same monetary transactions apply — but there’s a catch. You won’t be able to send parcels, buy stamps, or post letters at the banking hub.
An ATM will also be installed at the new hub, right where the RBS cash machine used to be.
A Broader Push to Keep Communities Connected
Wick is not alone in this shift.
There are currently 161 banking hubs across the UK, with 14 more planned in Scotland. It’s part of a broader effort to make sure people — especially in rural or smaller towns — aren’t completely cut off from in-person banking.
Jan McEwan, the Highland councillor for Wick and East Caithness, called the hub a “modern and customer-friendly” solution.
“With the various banks committing to the hub, it should potentially be an asset for all customers, particularly when we are soon to lose our last bank,” she said.
Businesses Asking the Big Questions
Over the course of the two-day drop-in event, many of the questions came from business customers. Some wanted to know if they’d still be able to deposit large amounts of cash or handle multi-account queries.
Wilson said that kind of feedback is important.
“We expected more personal banking questions, to be honest,” she said. “But businesses are worried — and understandably so. They want to know they can carry on trading and handling their finances without driving miles to the next branch.”
She also mentioned that having a consistent point of contact like Joy running the hub makes a big difference for both personal and business customers.
Timing Is Tight — But It’s Happening
No official launch date has been announced just yet, but the building work is moving quickly. Cash Access UK says the hub will open before the Bank of Scotland branch shuts its doors at the end of June.
Wilson’s confident: “It’s all progressing. It will be ready when it needs to be.”
Locals are watching closely. For some, it’s a welcome sign that even in the age of mobile banking apps and disappearing branches, small towns like Wick aren’t being left behind entirely.
