Halifax cutting staff

poppasmurf_bewdley

I hold my current account and several savings accounts with the Halifax in Kidderminster.

Up to about 12 months ago, this branch had 5 tellers windows, which were then reduced to three by blocking off the two outer ones. This month, of the three remaining windows, two have now been blocked off by advertisement boards, leaving one teller's window open. This has of course resulted in much longer queues and waiting times.

Yesterday, I was one of 15 customers waiting for the one teller on duty, and whilst I was waiting the manager came on and replaced the single teller so she could use the loo. If she can replace the teller in such emergencies, why can't she be telling for much longer periods?

I have in the past complained to this so-called Manager, who I think is really a glorified clerk, about this cutting down of service, only to be told it is Head Office making compulsory redundancies. Other customers yesterday were also making vocal complaints about the situation.

So I'm asking is every Halifax Branch cutting down like this or is Kidderminster an exception?

I'm on the verge of closing my accounts with Halifax despite having held several including three mortgages with them since 1977 if things don't improve PDQ.

Norscbu

My local halifax notified me recently my local branch is closing soon. I only opened the account 1 month prior!

worried_jim

With the move to digital Lloyds banking group has laid off 45,000 members of staff. There will be less branches in future, its the future.

PeacefulWaters

Sounds like LBG company policy.

bellaboo86

I think similar things are happening with most banks. The only reason I stick with Natwest is because of the proximity of branches to home and work.

LeeSouthEast

Seems to be the new normal. The biggest Barclays in the area here is 90% automated machines now, and one human wandering around with an iPad ...

xylophone

several savings accounts with the Halifax

Are they worth having? Consider alternatives?

securityguy

If you think that in ten years' time there will be any significant over-the-counter banking, from any bank, then you are making a brave prediction, with a lot of evidence against you.

What do people do in branches anyway? I doubt I go into a branch more than once in a couple of years, and that frequency is decreasing. In fact, thinking about it, I think that other than to pick up foreign currency, I haven't done business in a branch in ten years.

TheShape

I worked for Nationwide in 2007/8 and we would regularly close one counter position. When a queue built up the person who would normally man that position would take customers outside to show them how much quicker it was to use the cash machine rather than waiting. All part of the move towards digital/self-service banking.

I was in the Romford Branch of HSBC on Saturday and there was no counter position available. Transactions could only be carried out at the cash/deposit machines.

Thrugelmir

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

Yesterday, I was one of 15 customers waiting for the one teller on duty

Aren't Halifax branches now highly automated?

System

It will vary from branch to branch. Their automated cash deposit machines seem to reject a large amount of notes too.

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Aren't Halifax branches now highly automated?