A new banking hub is set to launch in Rainham High Street, the local MP has confirmed.

Naushabah Khan, MP for Gillingham and Rainham, announced the new facility after the town was left with only a single building society for local residents and businesses.

The hub will allow customers of any major bank to withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments, and carry out regular transactions.

Hubs have a counter service operated by Post Office employees, as well as private spaces where customers can discuss more complex matters.

Various major banks will share the hub with staff available on different days of the week.

So far more than 150 hubs have opened across the UK, with Kent’s only hub currently in Sheerness and a further two set to open in Dover and Tonbridge.

An opening date for the Rainham hub is not yet known, as work to find an exact location will begin in the coming weeks.

The town lost its NatWest branch in July 2024, and before that Barclays, Lloyds Bank and HSBC shut their branches in 2021, 2019 and 2015 respectively.

Last year Naushabah Khan MP launched a campaign to bring a banking hub to Rainham and submitted a request.

She said: “This campaign has been a real priority for me, after launching it in June 2024 during the General Election.

“Support for the hub is overwhelming, and its installation will provide accessible banking services instead of forcing residents to travel to Chatham to access the nearest options.”

LINK, the UK’s main ATM network, approved the request and the hub will now be delivered by Cash Access UK.

Dr Chris Ashton, chief commercial officer at LINK, said: “While more people are choosing to bank and pay for things digitally, we know that many people still rely on cash and face-to-face banking.

“There are over 150 hubs open across the country and when it opens, the Rainham banking hub will be a huge boost for the local community and high street.”

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