Councillors are backing proposals for a banking hub in a Stoke-on-Trent town.

Stoke is set to lose its last bank later this year, with Lloyds due to close its Hill Street branch in October.

Boothen councillor Andy Platt believes that the Art Deco building could be kept in use a new base for Stoke's Post Office, replacing the previous facility which closed several years ago. And he also thinks that this would allow the creation of a banking hub on the site.

Banking hubs, run by the Post Office in partnership with nine major banks, provide face-to-face personal and business banking in otherwise under-served areas.

Elected members at Stoke-on-Trent City Council voted to pass Cllr Platt's motion calling on the authority to support these proposals for Stoke.

Cllr Platt said: "Stoke is one of the major towns in the city, and to be left without any bank at all would be dreadful. It comes on the back of the Post Office looking for an alternative venue.

"If they're looking for somewhere, I've found it – I'm not saying they should use the former TSB building, but it's available.

"So this could solve two problems. If they're serious about finding a new building, there's one available. And they could also run a banking hub."

The motion also called for Link and Cash Access UK – the non-profit which owns banking hubs – to undertake a 'full review' of banking facilities in Stoke-on-Trent.

Goldenhill and Sandyford councillor Chandra Kanneganti said his residents had also been affected by recent bank closures, and suggested that online banking could be 'scary' for many older people.

He said: "The lack of high street banks is hurting all residents in Stoke-on-Trent. It's important that there is a full review of the banking facilities throughout the city.

"In Goldenhill and Sandyford we've been hit twice with the closure of Barclays in neighbouring Kidsgrove, and the announcement of the forthcoming closure of Lloyds in Tunstall from March 2026.

"That means my residents will have no access to banking services within their parliamentary constituency.

"This is not right. A lot of my elderly residents already feel isolated, and going to the bank in person can be a good excuse to get out of the house and enjoy interaction with another person."

Tunstall has been recommended for a banking hub once Lloyds in Tunstall closes, and Cash Access UK is currently looking at potential sites.

Penkhull and Springfields councillor Sarah Hill said many of her residents currently used the Lloyds branch in Stoke. She said "People in Penkhull are really worried about what's going to happen when Lloyds in Stoke closes.

"They don't want to have to go further, and they want to be able to go into a bank. It's not just older people, I've spoken to younger people as well who like being able to go into a bank."

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READ MORE: Plans to turn a former Stoke-on-Trent library building into an events venue

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