Bank branches closing - whose fault is it?

mgdavid

aj23 wrote: »

You don't need to be opposed to technology to not want to bank online.
.........

In the absence of any other reason, you do.
And you haven't given any other reason.

EarthBoy

aj23 wrote: »

First, you can bank in select Tesco stores, and FD is basically HSBC's telephone banking division, and you can use HSBC counters.

You can only bank in a very few large Tesco stores, you can't bank in 95% of them. First Direct is not HSBC's telephone banking operation, it's a stand alone division and you can't do much more than pay money in at HSBC counters. You can't open First Direct accounts or apply for any of their products in HSBC branches.

aj23 wrote: »

"most people in front of me in the queue are carrying out transactions they could do online. " - Yeah, and? There's no point to this. It's their CHOICE. That is my point. Why do none you get that?

Banks are businesses, not charities, and they have no responsibility to provide services which aren't profitable just because people want them. People will have to adjust, like it or lump it.

JuicyJesus

EarthBoy wrote: »

Banks are businesses, not charities, and they have no responsibility to provide services which aren't profitable just because people want them. People will have to adjust, like it or lump it.

Moreover, that poster and others would scream bloody murder if they were the ones bearing the cost of their "choice". They're only making it because they don't have to pay for it.

A_Nice_Englishman

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Moreover, that poster and others would scream bloody murder if they were the ones bearing the cost of their "choice". They're only making it because they don't have to pay for it.

Imagine a bank saying "OK we won't close this branch, but it's not covering its costs so we will have to charge £5 admission".

karlie88

aj23 wrote: »

Thing is people like you don't respect choices of others.

Like that time you called people who check their mobile banking apps once per day 'ridiculous' and 'pathetic'?

Pot kettle comes to mind....

Braintree

My partner and I are trying to open a joint bank account and because they cannot verify details we will need to go in branch. I work your standard 9-5, he works odd shifts so the only day we can do is an occasional Saturday. As shown we would rather do our banking online but there will still be a need for branches for when customers cannot be verified or until they expand what you can do online (we had to go in my branch to send a CHAPS payment but First Direct allow you to do it over the phone)

karlie88

Santander to shut 140 branches

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46972632

avian946

Flobberchops wrote: »

It's a result of people doing more of their everyday banking online, and increasingly using cashless methods of payments.

When you consider the utterly banal things people are willing to queue for in a bank - getting a mini statement, withdrawing a tenner, making a minor change to a small standing order - I actually don't have much sympathy for those who feel bricks and mortar banking facilities are in short supply. The argument that we are an aging population is a bit of an unkind one (older people are capable of managing their pensions, mortgage, investments, holiday home... but not a basic smartphone app?) and many of the stubborn traditionalists I come across in banks are well below middle age.

I absolutely feel people should be taking control of (and responsibility for) their own everyday banking. Isn't that the way the wind of public opinion is supposedly blowing? Too much corporate oversight in social media and so on? If there is a big change to their situation or something goes wrong, come on in; that's what the bank is there for. Some people seemingly want to abdicate most of their finances to the bank, though, and then cry and scream that they weren't to blame when they go overdrawn or a payment bounces or a company who they authorised to take money, takes money.

The public will tend to vote with their feet and their wallets though. Bank branches closing is just a symptom of that, not the signs of the end times, or some kind of undemocratically enforced austerity measure. I think OP may be slightly romanticising the "good old days" of banking, which have fallen by the wayside for generally good reason. Being mates with the bank manager to get a loan? I'd prefer a system based on credit history and financial health myself! Hub of the community? Go down the pub if you want to socialise; they need the footfall these days.

in particular i will highlight, the good old days is what caused all the headaches we have had in recent years with bank managers not doing KYC properly before giving loans and mortgages. I have heard some horror stories from other banks where people are tricking people into taking out loans and credit cards by being deceitful. absolutely not a time or mindset I ever want to go back to.

quite simply branches are closing because an overwhelming amount of people are doing it online. I work in a bank and it amazes me that some people say its "easier" to go to the branch to get a balance or make a payment. nonsense! there is a lack of understanding when it comes to older people (sorry for generalising) that is definitely something to bare in mind. I always target this by offering to show someone how to do things digitally which tends to have positive results. then there are just lazy people. who are continuously in unarranged overdrafts and act surprised and angry when Sky take a payment that they should have realised was going to come out!!:eek:

even without a bank branch people that do not want to do anything online will typically always be able to phone their bank and have them do it and most banks are 24/7 on the phone.

basically people have to get on board, or they will be left out in the cold. Banks are at the end of the day a business and they have to do whats in the best interest of keeping them afloat. Keeping a whole bunch of costly branches that nobody uses makes no sense.

bobblebob

MABLE wrote: »

Its we the customers fault. If we used them they would not be closing.

In terms of my bank Halifax, i blame them too. Whenever you went to the counter to do anything, you were bombarded with upselling questions. "Why dont you upgrade your account?", "want travel insurance?", "want a credit card?"


It got tiresome when you just wanted to speak to someone about your account and you got all these questions asked. Made me not want to speak to anyone and use the self service machines as much as possible

A_Nice_Englishman

bobblebob wrote: »

In terms of my bank Halifax, i blame them too. Whenever you went to the counter to do anything, you were bombarded with upselling questions. "Why dont you upgrade your account?", "want travel insurance?", "want a credit card?"


It got tiresome when you just wanted to speak to someone about your account and you got all these questions asked. Made me not want to speak to anyone and use the self service machines as much as possible

The upselling is/was a way to help keep branches open. Selling an insurance policy or other product makes money but telling a customer their account balance doesn't.