Child & Co RBS Branch to close

Marchitiello

Just received notification that the Child & Co RBS branch will be closing on 29/06/2022. Not clear if the brand will continue (branded Debit Cards) or not, but it is a shame nevertheless (renovated in 2015-16 I Believe, beautiful branch and nice service, where you were often offered a drink whilst waiting). 

Brie

My current RBS branch is nearly 30 miles away and is closing shortly.  Next closest is 60 miles away.  Good thing there's still some Natwest branches locally or I'd be stuffed!

WillPS

Yes, I had a letter about it this morning. Incidentally I got another from NatWest about the branch I've held since I was a child... always alarming seeing multiple similar letters from NatWest brands after all the horror stories on here!!

Marchitiello

WillPS said:

Yes, I had a letter about it this morning. Incidentally I got another from NatWest about the branch I've held since I was a child... always alarming seeing multiple similar letters from NatWest brands after all the horror stories on here!!

Yes, they announced many closure but Child &Co was a Branch/Brand and thus there are additional questions around what would happen to the brand. I am not home and have not seen the letter entirely but my wife mentioned something around a new card being issued, which could mean a standard RBS card instead of the C&C version and thus a discontinuation of the brand. 

WillPS

Marchitiello said:

WillPS said:

Yes, I had a letter about it this morning. Incidentally I got another from NatWest about the branch I've held since I was a child... always alarming seeing multiple similar letters from NatWest brands after all the horror stories on here!!

Yes, they announced many closure but Child &Co was a Branch/Brand and thus there are additional questions around what would happen to the brand. I am not home and have not seen the letter entirely but my wife mentioned something around a new card being issued, which could mean a standard RBS card instead of the C&C version and thus a discontinuation of the brand. 

Yeah, I hope not but I imagine that is the case sadly.

The letter isn't specific, the only diffences between it and the NatWest one are "You can, of course, use any other Royal Bank of Scotland or NatWest branch." and also "If you use our Safe Custody, please collect your items before 08 June 2022 as unfortunately we're not able to offer this service at another branch."

The fact they were still issuing Visa Debit cards rather than Mastercards as recently as last week suggests to me they will be dropping the brand altogether.

[Deleted User]

I had one of the Child&Co branded debit cards and cheque book back in the day while the fun lasted. Good times!

WillPS

I emailed the address on my letter asking about the brand and specifically the debit card/cheque books, I've received this in response:

"The Child & Co brand will remain as normal . All of the cheque books debit cards will remain the same. It is just the Branch that is closing."

MDMD

https://www.rbs.co.uk/content/dam/rbs_co_uk/Waystobank/documents/branch-closure-factsheet/London-Child-Co-Branch-Closure-Factsheet.pdf

WillPS

IanManc said:

WillPS said:

I emailed the address on my letter asking about the brand and specifically the debit card/cheque books, I've received this in response:

"The Child & Co brand will remain as normal . All of the cheque books debit cards will remain the same. It is just the Branch that is closing."

That directly contradicts the letter, which says: "Any pay-in books, cheque books and bank statements you get from now on will have the Royal Bank of Scotland London Victoria, 119-121 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6RA."

The letter is silent about debit cards.

My guess - and it is only a guess - is that Child & Co will stay open for private clients, but that the fake 15-80-00 "RBS London Child & Co branch" is disappearing to get rid of all us non-private-client plebs with our free Select Accounts to another RBS branch where everything we get will be RBS branded.

That letter is a template. I received exactly the same one to announce my branch of NatWest is closing (with a different address obviously). It's entirely possible the cheque books will continue to be Child & Co branded but will have the Victoria branch address.

[Deleted User]

As I suspected 

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6304560/child-co-branch-code-now-under-rbs-hq#latest

I would expect customers who already have an account to remain on the brand. Remember there are people on the 15-80-00 sort code that only received RBS cards and cheques. There is a separate level to this.

WillPS

IanManc said:

WillPS said:

IanManc said:

WillPS said:

I emailed the address on my letter asking about the brand and specifically the debit card/cheque books, I've received this in response:

"The Child & Co brand will remain as normal . All of the cheque books debit cards will remain the same. It is just the Branch that is closing."

That directly contradicts the letter, which says: "Any pay-in books, cheque books and bank statements you get from now on will have the Royal Bank of Scotland London Victoria, 119-121 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6RA."

The letter is silent about debit cards.

My guess - and it is only a guess - is that Child & Co will stay open for private clients, but that the fake 15-80-00 "RBS London Child & Co branch" is disappearing to get rid of all us non-private-client plebs with our free Select Accounts to another RBS branch where everything we get will be RBS branded.

That letter is a template. I received exactly the same one to announce my branch of NatWest is closing (with a different address obviously). It's entirely possible the cheque books will continue to be Child & Co branded but will have the Victoria branch address.

You've missed the point I was making.

The building at 1 Fleet Street is home to two branches, RBS London Child & Co branch with sort code 15-80-00, and Child & Co Private Bank with sort code 16-00-80.

People who opened a Select Account on the RBS website got a 15-80-00 sort code and a free banking current account with Child & Co branded paying in books, cheque books and debit card.

It is the RBS London Child & Co branch that is closing, and the accounts are moving to an ordinary RBS branch.

The Private Client business is huge, with many firms of solicitors and barristers' chambers as clients, as well as individual lawyers, and other large businesses.

Yes, it is "entirely possible" for the cheque books etc continuing to be Child & Co branded, but it is unlikely because there would be little point in shipping out the non-private banking personal customers to an ordinary RBS branch if the bank was going to do that.

I only know one person who is a Child & Co Private Banking client and he hasn't had a letter. 

I suppose we can just wait and see what happens.

I'm not sure the notional location of the 15-80-00 branch has anything to do with it. There is a reason the 15-80-00 sort code seems to result in branded stationary being sent out, and I would suggest it is more likely to do with some sort of legacy products and/or customers which use that sort code. There is no rule that your accounts stationary must match the name or logo with that on your physical branch.

Despite looking fancier, the cost to RBS of sending out a fancy looking debit card or cheque book will not be significantly higher than sending out a normal RBS one.