THE MALVERN branch of Natwest will close on June 6 next year after a drop in the number of customers using it.
Bosses said between 2010 and 2015 said there had been a 59 per cent in transactions at the branch and a 55 per cent increase in mobile and online banking.
They added nationally that mobile transactions had increased by 1,350 per cent and online banking by 400 per cent.
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, an agreement with the Post Office whereby people can deposit cash and withdraw it, check balances and business customers could get coins.
He also said there were 13 free cash machines within a mile of the branch and there would be a ‘mobile branch’, adding the bank was currently consulting residents about the best date and time for it to visit the town.
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 Malvern residents is Worcester Cross – 8.25miles away.
