MSE Poll: When did you last use your bank branch?

Former_MSE_Karl

Poll started 3 April 2018

Whether it's down to customer behaviour, cost-cutting or both, banks are closing branches left, right and centre. This year alone, RBS and Natwest is to close 259 across the country - a quarter of its network.

So this week, we wanted to know when you last used your main bank's branch. We last did this poll a year ago, so let's see if things have changed.

Please select ONE option under the relevant category.

Click here to vote in the poll

Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below. To see the results from last time, click here.

If you haven't already, join the forum to reply.

Thanks!


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Spidernick

Radio 4's Money Box discussed this recently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x8qq5

The trend seems to be to close branches, especially in more rural areas, and encourage people to use their local Post Office instead.

In terms of the poll, I am 'within the last year' category, as I only need to go into a branch to pay in cheques (and even that won't be necessary in years to come). Unless you run a business, or are a pensioner that isn't able to use the internet, most people don't need to visit a bank that often, I would imagine (but I may be wrong).

telemarks

I ummmed and arrrred, on which option.... " when you last used your main bank's branch"

• As a First direct customer - "my main bank doesn't have branches".
• But I have been into HSBC once last year to pay in a cheque

Not sure which option to pick :question::huh:

Tigsteroonie

I always post my cheques to my bank! I only went into a branch to ask whether they could stop the marketing texts I was receiving; I'd tried to stop them thru the online banking app and thru online chat, but was still getting them. Turns out that even though the branch reset my communication preferences, I'm getting them.

Wizard_of_Id

Following on from the 'how often do you use cash' question a few weeks ago, I go into my branch regularly as I like to have £5 notes in my wallet and the bank is the only place that seems to have them these days.

Owain_Moneysaver

I used my bank today, but they wanted to charge me £25 for an electronic payment as they said they couldn't do it by Faster Payments to where it had to go.

So I came back home and put a cheque in the post instead. You know, a cheque, one of those things they're trying to discontinue.

aj23_2

Whereas Nottingham Building Society and Metro Bank are actively opening new branches because their customer feedback and market research shows people want more in branch facilities and to have more branches accessible to them. Nottingham Building Society have taken over seven of the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society branches to keep access to accounts for people local to them and are keeping most of the N+P staff in place to lower the impact of Yorkshire Building Society's takeover of the brand.

People don't realise that online and mobile banking is actively doing people out of jobs in branches. Yes the big boys like it because it means less wages and pension contributions, but that in turn means higher unemployment, lower income tax collection and higher benefits payouts.

I'm 25 and use multiple brand branches every week. We also rely on it for our business banking. Whenever I go into Santander or Halifax, there is always a queue of people (because they now have one or two counters whereas most branches used to have four, five or six) all with things to do which can't be done online or because they don't want to do online.

I hear the clerks saying 'do you bank online' or 'you can do this online,' which I'm sure they are told to say despite it ultimately costing them their jobs in the future no doubt, and the answers range from 'no I don't bank online,' 'I don't want to do this online' or 'Can you just do what I've asked please'. Whenever I am in a branch, I see multiple people paying in cheques or asking for bankers drafts, so it's a myth that people don't use them but that's a different convo.

aj23_2

Spidernick wrote: »

Radio 4's Money Box discussed this recently:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x8qq5

The trend seems to be to close branches, especially in more rural areas, and encourage people to use their local Post Office instead.

In terms of the poll, I am 'within the last year' category, as I only need to go into a branch to pay in cheques (and even that won't be necessary in years to come). Unless you run a business, or are a pensioner that isn't able to use the internet, most people don't need to visit a bank that often, I would imagine (but I may be wrong).

And that's part of the problem. You can do everything at the Post Office now. So when someone like me who wants to post a parcel, what the Post Office is for, I have to wait for people to do their banking instead.

aj23_2

telemarks wrote: »

I ummmed and arrrred, on which option.... " when you last used your main bank's branch"

• As a First direct customer - "my main bank doesn't have branches".
• But I have been into HSBC once last year to pay in a cheque

Not sure which option to pick :question::huh:

'My bank doesn't have branches' ? You are with First Direct, not HSBC, per se.

aycor

An interesting addition to this poll would be where do you live Urban or rural and also Scotland England Wales or Northern Ireland

worried_jim

I bank (and work) with lloyds, haven't used a branch in over ten years. I also have a Monzo account (it's the future) and a Revolut account both are digital banks. Banking is going to change massively over the next 5-10 years, think iTunes HMV and Blockbuster.