THE DROITWICH branch of Natwest will close on June 8 next year after a drop in the number of customers using it.
Bosses said between 2010 and 2015 there had been a 27 per cent decrease in transactions at the Droitwich branch and a 59 per cent rise in mobile and online banking.
They added mobile transactions had increased by 1,350 per cent and online banking by 400 per cent.
They say, as a result of the change in trends, the branch has seen a decline of 55 per cent from people addressing their banking needs.
A spokesperson for Natwest said the company was consulting those affected by the decision and proactively contacting vulnerable and regular branch customers.
“We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months.
“This has been done in order to ensure our customers have time to consider the right banking options for them.”
He added he realised not all customers were comfortable and familiar with using online and mobile banking so a new specialist task force of digital experts dedicated to support customers with training and digital skill support had been introduced.
“We are following the Access to Banking protocol and we have made the decision after careful consideration of a wide range of factors, including regular branch usage and the alternative ways our customers can bank with us.”
He concluded by saying a range of alternative banking methods, tailored to the needs of communities and reflecting the way customers lived their lives, had been created.
Among them are 24-7 telephone call centres and an agreement with the Post Office whereby people can deposit cash and withdraw it, check balances and business customers could get coins. He said there were five Post Offices within 4.23miles of the branch.
And he added there was a ‘community banker’ who would be on hand to provide customers with personal assistance in accessing the right banking options and helping with their financial plans and goals.
The next nearest Natwest branch for Droitwich residents is Worcester Cross – 6.13 miles away.
