Moray MP Douglas Ross says he welcomed the opportunity to have a “useful and constructive” meeting over the future of banking in Forres with Cash Access UK.
Douglas met with Cat Farrow, the Chief Operating Officer of Cash Access UK recently to find out how plans are progressing to bring a banking hub to the town, following all of the major banks shutting their premises last year.
As the local MP, Douglas has been determined to find a solution for local people and businesses who still rely on using banking services on their doorstep.
He hit out at banks for “shamefully abandoning the community of Forres” and says they failed to understand that many people living in the area cannot access online or mobile banking, and many businesses still rely on a bank being available in the High Street to deposit cash.
Since their closures, Douglas has been working closely with Cash Access UK and other interested stakeholders to try and secure suitable premises that would allow for a banking hub to be set up in Forres.
Following the meeting, Douglas says that he is reassured “ambitious” plans are continuing to progress and wants the community to continue to remain positive that they will come to fruition.
He added that he will continue to work closely with Cat to ensure that this is delivered and local people can once again have a building to walk into to carry out banking activities in person in the town.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “This was a good chance to get an update on how plans are progressing to bring a banking hub to Forres. The meeting with Cat Farrow from Cash Access UK reassured me that the plans for a banking hub are still very much progressing.
“As the local MP I am determined that they will come to fruition. Banks have shamefully abandoned the Forres area in recent years. They failed to understand that many of my constituents cannot simply switch to online or mobile banking, while businesses like having a bank on their doorstep to deposit cash too.
“That was taken away by banks who did not even have the decency to explain their decision to people in Forres.
“Since then I have been working closely with Cat and other interested parties to try and secure suitable premises to set up a banking hub. This would allow local residents and businesses to once again carry out banking activities in person like they had always been used to.
“I will continue to liaise closely with Cash Access UK over their plans and hope we can see real progress in the coming months.”
