With the imminent closure of Pembroke Dock’s last bank, Postmaster Peter Robinson has called on councillors to campaign alongside Samuel Kurtz MS (pictured) and MP Henry Tufnell for a new banking hub in the town.

The postmaster was guest speaker for a question and answer session at this month’s Town Council meeting in response to the closure of Lloyds Bank on June 26.

Mr Robinson explained that a banking hub, although run by the Post Office, would be an autonomous entity in a separate building, dealing purely with banking. Typically, each day in the five-day working week would be allocated to a different bank. This allows for clients to make appointments and hold private meetings with representatives of their own bank.

Currently, the Post Office offers customers basic services: they can pay in and withdraw cash, and print statements, but they can’t access account transactions, direct debits and so on - and all dealings are in public.

The postmaster suggested that Lloyds’ Dimond Street premises, should it become available, would be an ideal location as it is already a bank and has the necessary security infrastructure and screens.

Mr Robinson told councillors that a banking hub costs a small fraction of a high street bank’s overheads.

“The more I’ve looked into it, I’ve realised it’s a really good fit for the town,” he said.

Citing the cost of travel to Haverfordwest by public transport, and reasoning that further branches there might also close in future, he continued: “I may be able to cope without it, but there is a section of society that really needs the face-to-face aspect of banking. Many customers have moved banks to the ones who still had branches in town when the others closed.

“Most of the South Pembrokeshire population comes to Pembroke Dock for shopping. If the hub were in Tenby or Pembroke, that synergy wouldn’t be there.”

Ironically, national ATM operator LINK is the body charged with assessing the needs for a banking hub. “Wouldn’t they have a vested interest?” asked one councillor.

According to the postmaster, LINK’s ’generic’ assessment says a banking hub is not needed, as there is plenty of access to cash in Pembroke Dock. But it describes the town as ‘rural’ and underestimates the town’s population.

Mr Robinson urged councillors to support the campaign for a banking hub for Pembroke Dock by contacting LINK on an individual basis with arguments that the town needs a banking hub and that it would be successful.

He told councillors a postmaster in Morriston, Swansea, is ‘stunned’ at how busy and well supported the banking hub is there.

Answering questions, Mr Robinson reassured the councillors that a banking hub would be in addition to the Post Office, and that there would be no charge to residents. Hubs are rented by a third party, operated and staffed by the Post Office.

The campaign has cross-party support. Henry Tufnell has written to the minister in charge and Samuel Kurtz will be raising the subject at the next town council meeting.