Old Queenian Tim Allen MBE (1988-95) was recently recognised in the King's New Year's Honours for services to the Banking and Cash sectors.

After leaving Queens and graduating from the University of London, Tim joined Barclays PLC and after several years spent working overseas across Africa and in Spain, he joined the UK business.

For the last 15 years Tim has been instrumental in ensuring the UK has efficient access to cash, in his role at Barclays and through several industry roles as a Director of the LINK ATM Scheme Ltd, Cash Access UK Ltd, and as a member of the LINK Consumer Council.

More recently, Tim has been one of the driving forces behind a significant collaboration between the UK’s Banks to ensure vulnerable people who rely on cash and face-to-face banking are not left behind, as most of us move to digital means of managing our finances.

With many bank branches closing across the country, Tim has worked tirelessly to ensure that cash and basic banking services are still available to the public, through his efforts pioneering the development of Shared Banking Hubs.

There are now over 100 Banking Hubs up and down the country, providing cash services to the customers of all banks five days a week, with a member of staff from different banks available on different days of the week to help customers with more complicated banking enquiries.

The UK’s banks have now committed to opening at least 350 Shared Banking Hubs over the next few years to ensure that those more vulnerable members of society, who rely on cash and face to face banking, are not left behind.

So, if you want to experience a banking Hub for yourself and see the difference that Tim is making, please head to cashaccess.co.uk to find your nearest location. And for those of you still living locally, one has recently opened in Wellington!