another bank closure

Thrugelmir

Tallaght wrote: »

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

Not replaced. These are the only shops left in some areas.

pafpcg

JackieO wrote: »

......
......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.

Now what does that tell you about Barclays?

It's like when you have a choice of two fish&chip shops - one has a long queue and the other doesn't - which shop do you choose?

PS: All three will offer the same basic services and provide a good service 99% of the time - it's the 1% that differentiates them (and it's a different 1% for each user)!

dreaming

maman wrote: »

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.

I used to work for N/wide (not in a branch) and several years ago we were told about the new "vision" for branches. This is when they started to have the person going up and down the queue to persuade people to use the machines. Absolutely fine for me as I just used to nip in and get some cash out. However my FIL was in his 80's at the time and used to enjoy his weekly trip to the branch to get his cash for the week, and then on for his shopping and bowls club. He wasn't in the least bit doddery but there was no way he could remember a PIN and what buttons to press, and couldn't see the screen properly anyway even with his glasses on. Besides I think he quite liked the 3 minute "chat" with the cashiers who all seemed to know their regular customers. When I mentioned this to the powers that be I was told that they were exactly the people they wanted to discourage as the amount of time they took up was disproportionate to the amount of cash most of them had. Several cashiers left as they were told not to engage in "chit-chat".
So yes I agree. The banks and building societies (and other businesses) instigated a lot of the behaviour we see today by pushing people to use the automated machines and online banking /shopping, then cite the lack of demand as the reason to close the branches, which of course means more customers turn to the internet.......and so it goes on. However I recognise that it is just "business" and they have to turn a profit (even the mutuals) so to a certain extent I understand their actions but I do hate that they all seem to advertise themselves as being "for the customer". Then they wonder why people aren't so loyal to them anymore.

Tallaght

2 former bank branches i know of have turned into wetherspoons pubs.

eskbanker

dreaming wrote: »

Then they wonder why people aren't so loyal to them anymore.

Really? I'd have thought that the average bank has a perfectly adequate data set to be able to correlate very quickly and easily between customer loss and underlying root causes, whether product-related (end of promos, interest rate drops, competitor activity, etc) or more localised (branch closures, etc).

I could be wrong and don't have any inside knowledge but can't relate to the notion that bank management are sitting scratching their heads trying to figure out why their customer numbers are changing! Was that really how it was at Nationwide?

d123

hollie.weimeraner wrote: »

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

Halifax do offer cash deposits at the PO. It’s done using your debit card and registers immediately in your account.

molerat

I can't remember the last time I went into a branch to conduct business, I do go inside to use the machine when it is wet. I can pay cheques in either in the machine or at home on my tablet.


My SIL on the other hand is younger than us and refuses to do on line banking. She has to drive 9 miles into town if she needs to check her balance. She wanted to open a savings account so made an appointment in branch 2 weeks in advance. When she go there there was a mix up and her appointment was the following week so 3 weeks to open an account - I opened 2 on Friday without leaving the comfort of my armchair ! She also goes into town to pay bills and moves money between accounts over the counter. Some people will not change and will be hit hard by these closures.

dreaming

eskbanker wrote: »

Really? I'd have thought that the average bank has a perfectly adequate data set to be able to correlate very quickly and easily between customer loss and underlying root causes, whether product-related (end of promos, interest rate drops, competitor activity, etc) or more localised (branch closures, etc).

I could be wrong and don't have any inside knowledge but can't relate to the notion that bank management are sitting scratching their heads trying to figure out why their customer numbers are changing! Was that really how it was at Nationwide?

Oh dear - the wonders of electronic communication. You couldn't see me rolling my eyes and grinning sarcastically, or hear my tone of voice. Maybe I ought to use smilies/emoticons/emojis/acronyms a bit more but I tend not to know what most of them mean! Aubergine anyone?

Terry_Towelling

dreaming wrote: »

Aubergine anyone?

Is it that time already?

harz99

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 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

I would check if any or all of the banks you are considering have an agreement allowing paying in etc. at the Post Office, if any of those do offer this and you go with them, you then have two options at least for now for your banking needs.