Newcastle Building Society reveals launch date for new branch in Wooler

Newcastle Building Society has revealed that it will launch its new Wooler community branch on Thursday, February 6.

A spokesperson for Newcastle Building Society said: “We’re getting a great reception from people as the town has been bankless for over a year, and we’re looking forward to becoming a part of this thriving community, which also has some other exciting developments planned for 2020.”

The project was first revealed at the Glendale Gateway Trust’s annual general meeting in July.

The community branch will be based in the established Cheviot Centre community hub that boasts tourist information services, a library and community meeting spaces.

The Glendale Gateway Trust has been active in creating significant improvements in the town, buying up neglected buildings to create modern and attractive affordable homes, promoting rural business development, and managing a community and business centre offering small business facilities and office pods for start-up businesses to rent.

The partnership with Newcastle Building Society to bring financial services back to the town is part of a wider picture of the Trust’s successful regeneration and improvement programme, which has already rejuvenated a picturesque high street, and delivered an effective approach to building community sustainability.

For Newcastle Building Society, the move is part of a wider strategy to create a step change in how it delivers its services to towns and communities in the North East, Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Creatively re-imagining its branch locations and adapting its approach to suit local needs, while increasing its branch network at a time when many banks and building societies are reducing their High Street presence, is part of a long term commitment to the provision of face to face local financial services and financial advice across its regions.

When the last bank closed in Wooler, with the loss of Barclays Bank in November 2018, residents were faced with a round trip of 40 miles to access banking services.