Buckley Secures New Banking Hub in Library Following Years of Community Campaigning
Buckley residents will soon regain access to vital banking services with the opening of a new Principality Building Society mini-branch and OneBanks terminal at Buckley Library, marking a significant victory for the town.
The facility, set to open in the coming months, follows years of campaigning spearheaded by Councillor Carolyn Preece, who launched a grassroots campaign in 2020 to address the town’s banking desert after Lloyds Bank announced its closure, the last bank to leave our town. Her efforts, alongside sustained pressure, culminated in this partnership with Principality and the Flintshire County Council.
A Lifeline for Buckley
The new hub will provide:
- A Principality mini-branch for savings, mortgages, and financial advice.
- A OneBanks terminal enabling customers of any High Street bank to conduct transactions.
- A free-to-use ATM (accessible during library hours).
- Services for both personal and business banking needs.
The facility will occupy the ground floor of Buckley Library, relocating the existing IT suite upstairs. Principality will cover all setup and operational costs, ensuring no financial burden on taxpayers.
Flintshire County Councillor Carolyn Preece, who oversaw the campaign and led on the pressure to not drop the issue, praised the collaboration:
“When I launched the petition a few years ago and sought help from my local MS Jack Sargeant, I never dreamt we would enter discussions with one of the UKs most prominent building societies. Through our campaigning, Principality’s vision and Flintshire Councils willingness to help, banking is returning to Buckley. I’d like to thank all those involved for their hard work in making this happen.”
Addressing a National Issue
Buckley’s victory comes amid a national wave of bank closures, with over 5,000 branches shuttered since 2015. The town’s campaign, including a petition to save Lloyds Bank, highlighted the disproportionate impact on elderly residents, small businesses, and those without digital access.
Mobile banking offers undeniable convenience, enabling instant transactions, budgeting tools, and 24/7 access to financial services—a boon for tech-savvy users and those in well-connected areas. However, it is not a universal solution. Vulnerable groups, including older adults, low-income households, and rural communities with unreliable internet, often face barriers to digital adoption. Cash remains a critical cornerstone of financial inclusion, providing tangible security during emergencies, supporting small businesses reliant on cash transactions, and ensuring privacy for those wary of digital footprints. While innovation drives progress, equitable access to cash safeguards economic resilience and dignity for all, ensuring no one is excluded from participating fully in society.
Cllr. Rose. “We’ll keep fighting for Buckley’s needs, but today, we celebrate a hard-won milestone thanks to Cllr Carolyn Preece. A Testament to Persistence”
