another bank closure

Yellow_mango

If the branches are not getting enough business to stay open, how come it’s so hard to get an appointment and wait times are well over an hour if you walk in to talk to anyone?

Doesn’t seem to be a demand issue. More a decision that it’s just not profitable to run a full branch service. Which is fine provided all of the same services are available online (or by phone etc).

Terry_Towelling

JackieO wrote: »

I used to bank with the HSBC for many years then about two years ago they closed the local branch so I transferred to LLoyds, now I had a letter this morning saying that their branch is closing in November . What will I do now, anyone got a reasonable idea of what company will not keep closing their branches True I am a pensioner, so don't have millions in the bank In my area within walking distance we have Barclays ,Natwest or the Nationwide, just wondering if anyone has a good word to say about any of them ?? or are they all much of a muchness

They are all probably much of a muchness (as you say) but given that you've got this many banks within walking distance, you must live in a reasonably-sized town.

You could try a switch to Barclays to take advantage of their switch reward offer (if it is still available) - that way, you'll soon have millions in the bank!

DrSyn

If your banking needs are simple and you are close to a post office, then I would suggest using that. You will quickly learn the the times when it is not busy. Then it just becomes a quick in and out procedure.

If you just want to take money out and you use a supermarket to do your shopping, I see woman use their debit cards at the till to get money out when they buy things there.

If I had to choose out of the three you mention, it would be Nationwide.

MoneySavingNovice

I've faced that issue. In my local town 2 years ago we had three Banks, Natwest, HSBC and Barclays. All were shut within 18 months. We also almost lost our post office on the same week the last bank, Barclays' closed its doors. The nearest bank is now only 8 miles away, so it could be worse. I now use the post office for day to day transactions (usually paying in Cheques) without issue.

[Deleted User]

I suppose my main issue is that I prefer to pay in cash for most things and especially regular small bills ,gardener,window cleaner etc so like to have enough cash indoors for the month
I also buy my food with cash as I put a set amount into a seperate purse to use for food only.So I may have to borrow one of my large grandsons once a month to be my guard when I go to the post office to draw cash out .

Being both a pensioner and slightly disabled I have to think about the nastier element of folk around who seem to have no qualms in robbing people I live in a suburb of Chatham (about 3 miles from there ) not exactly a town but a pretty good sized village

We used to have two post offices but now are down to one. Thanks everyone for your ideas I will have a ponder and perhaps see what barclays offer.Our local Nationwide always have queues almost out the door and the same with Natwest.Possibly I may have to find a time when its less busy to get what I need
JackieO x

hollie.weimeraner

JackieO wrote: »

I suppose my main issue is that I prefer to pay in cash for most things and especially regular small bills ,gardener,window cleaner etc so like to have enough cash indoors for the month

I've been with Nationwide for years but can't remember last time I was in branch.

I also bank with Santander, Halifax, TSB and Monzo.

Santander will accept cash deposits via Post office (NW, Halifax and Monzo don't).

Halifax do however accept cheques being deposited via their app which is useful at times.

Monzo, cash can be deposited at shops that have paypoint but there is a charge for it.

Thrugelmir

Yellow_mango wrote: »

If the branches are not getting enough business to stay open, how come it’s so hard to get an appointment and wait times are well over an hour if you walk in to talk to anyone?

Perhaps the reduction in volume of activity has resulted in a similar reduction in staff numbers. Little point in having expensively trained staff sitting around doing nothing.

Aldi/Lidl get staff doing other tasks rather than sitting and twiddling their thumbs at empty checkouts.

maman

dreaming wrote: »

I don't really know about the banks but I know Nationwide were advertising that they would retain a branch in every town that currently has one for 2 years. That's not to say they aren't closing branches however where there are several branches in a town. Where I live they are currently closing 3 "local" branches which means that to visit a branch will require a car or bus journey. I am a "younger" pensioner and fortunate enough to be able to run a car so getting around isn't too much of a problem for me, and to be honest I can't remember the last time I visited a branch of any of my banks as I do all of my stuff online. However there are a lot of people who will struggle to get to a branch - not just pensioners but the disabled and people with young children, not to mention those who work and only have a lunch hour to get things done.

This was what Nationwide promised:
Our Branch Promise
Here today, here tomorrow. That's our promise to every town and city with a Nationwide branch on its high street. So, if we're still a part of your community on March 18th 2019, we'll stay part of your community until at least May 31st 2021.

I think it was deliberately misleading. I live in a large city which has many suburbs with established shopping centres, that's IMO how most people would describe their local community. Nationwide interprets their promise as keeping the branch in the City Centre while closing the local branches at almost exactly the same time.

Of course, there has been a move towards online banking but the banks are definitely doing their bit to push customers that way whether they want to or not. The service in branches is dreadful with the number of cashiers being cut back and staff employed to way lay customers and try to force them to use a machine instead. So they make the branch experience poor then tell us they're closing the branch because not enough people use them. All banks (as other businesses) are interested in is making profits.

Tallaght

Banks are getting replaced by bookies.charity shops and cash converters.

JuicyJesus

Tallaght wrote: »

Banks are getting replaced by bookies.charity shops and cash converters.

Branches are pretty unnecessary in this day and age. I'd be more concerned about the fact that everything else is getting replaced with bookies, charity shops, pawn shops, vape shops, mobile phone repair etc.



Welcome to the wonderful world of Britain, 2019, where nobody's got any money so it's pointless investing money opening actual shops for anything that's not ridiculously cheap, an absolute necessity and/or literally addictive.