Thame community Bank will be accessible 24/7

FOLLOWING on from yesterday’s news that Thame is to have its own Community Bank (see LINK) more information about how it will work has now been made available, including that the banks’s website, www.thamecommunity bank.org.uk, will be live by the launch date of November 11.

Image courtesy of financenet.org

Thame Town Hall Information Centre will become a branch for the Thame Community Bank. The council staff there are being trained to help individuals sign up to join the Swan Credit Union or make loan applications, and will be available to answer general questions.

Everything about the Thame Community Bank will be accessible to all 24/7 because the application process can be done online or via the post. Similarly loan application forms will be online and there will also be a 9am to 5pm telephone support service available each weekday.

Having opened an account with Thame Community Bank (which is free), members will then be able to pay money into their account either by Standing Order from a normal bank account, Payroll deduction (if their employer supports that) or simply go to a local supermarket or newsagent which handles Paypoint Cards and pay cash directly into their account with their Swan Credit Union Paypoint Card.

Phil Stratton, a Trustee of Sharing Life Trust, one of the bank’s sponsors, said: “We have been working closely with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) throughout the whole process of setting up the Thame Community Bank, so they will be fully aware of the services that it will offer, but because it is run by multiple volunteers, they may not be able to provide as much detailed support to clients as the trained staff at the Town Hall Information Centre.”

It is planned to have a branch of the  Thame Community Bank in Chinnor at the Village Centre which will be open daily.

24/10/13