Plans have been submitted to turn former public toilets in Auchterarder into a banking hub.
Cash Access UK is seeking permission from Perth and Kinross Council to create the facility at the recently-closed conveniences, situated in the town’s Crown Inn Wynd.
Auchterarder was earmarked for a banking hub after the closure of its last physical bank branch, the Bank of Scotland, in 2020.
Similar to a facility which is now up and running in Crieff’s Church Street, the hubs offer a counter service operated by the Post Office where customers of most major banks can carry out regular cash transactions.
They can also offer a community banker service, where people who hold accounts with several major financial institutions can talk to representatives of their own bank about more complicated issues.
The toilets were declared surplus to requirements by PKC as part of cost-cutting measures earlier this year, with a comfort scheme at Cafe Kisa and The Niblick pub extended to cover the whole year as a result.
The local authority consulted with groups over what to do with the vacant building and received two expressions of interest.
The other proposal was from Auchterarder Picturehouse, which sought to retain the toilets and create an art gallery on the site.
A spokesperson for Cash Access UK said: “Our team is committed to protecting access to cash and restoring local High Streets.
“As part of this work, we are looking to turn the former public toilet building in Auchterarder into a fully-working banking hub.
“While we work to set up this hub we will be opening a temporary hub which will provide local residents and businesses with access to cash and face-to-face banking services.
“This is great news for the community and we will provide them with updates on our work as it progresses.”
A PKC spokesperson said: “The decision to create a banking hub in the town was based on the business cases for each project as well as the results of the consultation.
“We thank everyone who took part in the consultation for sharing their opinions with us.”
Cash Access UK is owned and funded by nine of the UK and Ireland’s biggest banks – the Bank of Ireland, Barclays, Danske Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, Santander, TSB and Virgin Money.
The existing hub in Crieff is currently located in Church Street but is to move to 17 High Street, the town’s former Semi-Chem premises, after the latter property has been refurbished.
The submission in relation to the Auchterarder plans will be considered by local authority planners in due course.