Santander to close 95 branches

Rob5342

JuicyJesus said:

Quelle surprise.

The only thing that surpises me is that there are so many left, given that internet banking has been around for 27 years or so. Even back in 2001 I had an online only Egg card.

Lightning360

Doesn't bother me in the slightest. Cant even remember the last time I needed to visit one. I know some people will be outraged, but it isn't surprising when barely anyone uses them anymore.

eskbanker

Nothing like a branch closure thread to invoke the full Groundhog Day experience of rehashing every previous trope-laden incarnation! 🙄

sonofmerton

The ones that remain open where I live are busy. The couple that closed were usually mostly empty. You never hear stories of banks closing that were packed.

I understand that the elderly, those that can't use the internet, are struggling. Does a bank keep open a branch because only 82 year old Reg uses it or 47 year old Michael who can't get to grips with the internet?

More banking hubs/help need to be around to help those that do use cash/need personal help. 

Before anyone says it....cash is not king, it hasn't been for some time. Even our window cleaner is cashless now.    

WillPS

sonofmerton said:

You never hear stories of banks closing that were packed.

I've known a few. The only remaining branch of TSB in Nottingham immediately springs to mind, but also the much smaller branch of Lloyds Bank atop the hill - the last bank on that street - was always busy too.

Rob5342

sonofmerton said:

I understand that the elderly, those that can't use the internet, are struggling. 

It must be a pretty tiny number of people now, using an aop on an ipad takes no more skill than opening and reading a bank statement sent in the post. 

Barkin

sonofmerton said:

I understand that the elderly, those that can't use the internet, are struggling.    

Are they?

My Mum's 83. She has no problem using The Internet, but doesn't do any kind of Internet/online banking.

She has a cheque book & a debit card and, with the odd trip to the village Post Office to get some cash or pay in a premium bond prize cheque, seems to manage just fine.

Olenna

sonofmerton said:

The ones that remain open where I live are busy. The couple that closed were usually mostly empty. You never hear stories of banks closing that were packed.

Most closures are mysteriously linked to breaks in or the renewal of leases.

Both of the two closest Lloyds branches that are closing are usually packed and the local one's ATM frequently runs out of money.

GeoffTF

Rob5342 said:

sonofmerton said:

I understand that the elderly, those that can't use the internet, are struggling. 

It must be a pretty tiny number of people now, using an aop on an ipad takes no more skill than opening and reading a bank statement sent in the post. 

I tried to teach an elderly lady to do it. Her eyesight was very poor (Age Related Macular Degeneration). She also had very poor dexterity. She kept accidentally touching the screen at random locations. She got absolutely nowhere. An iPad is impossibly difficult to use for some people. I suggested a desktop PC with a mouse and a large screen, but she was not interested.

EarthBoy

GeoffTF said:

Rob5342 said:

sonofmerton said:

I understand that the elderly, those that can't use the internet, are struggling. 

It must be a pretty tiny number of people now, using an aop on an ipad takes no more skill than opening and reading a bank statement sent in the post. 

I tried to teach an elderly lady to do it. Her eyesight was very poor (Age Related Macular Degeneration). 

She'd be well advised to bank with First Direct, and she could do everything over the phone.