Longton To Get Banking Hub In Former Shoe Zone Unit At Longton Exchange

A new banking hub is coming to Longton, and it will be based in the former Shoe Zone unit at the Longton Exchange Shopping Centre.

The location was confirmed on Saturday 26 September by Stoke-on-Trent South MP Dr Allison Gardner. She had campaigned for the hub with door-knocking, street stalls and a petition signed by more than 700 people.

Dr Gardner said: "This is a big win for Longton. Our town deserves to have the services people need, and this will help keep our money local, being spent in all of our brilliant shops and in our fabulous Longton Victorian Market."

She also thanked Chris and the team at Longton Exchange for their work behind the scenes to make it happen.

LINK, the UK's cash machine network, recommended a hub for Longton in February after Lloyds announced it would close its branch at 18 to 20 The Strand. That branch, the last bank in the town, is due to shut on 17 March 2027. The hub will be run by Cash Access UK, which lists its expected opening as February 2027.

Banking hubs are usually open from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. They have a counter run by the Post Office, where anyone can withdraw and pay in cash and cheques, check their balance and pay bills, whoever they bank with. There is also a private room where community bankers from different banks take turns, a different bank each day, to help with more complex questions.

Longton will be the fourth banking hub in Staffordshire, after Cheadle, Rugeley and Stone.