NatWest branches in Southwell and Bingham to close

Two NatWest branches in the Advertiser area are set to shut in September with a decline in customers blamed for the closures.

The Southwell and Bingham branches have therefore been hit by a decline in transactions, it is said.

Between 2010 and 2015, customers using mobile and online transactions have increased by more than 400% nationally and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350%, NatWest said.

Since 2011 NatWest said it had seen the number of transactions at its Southwell branch decline by 27% and 56.7% of customers choosing to use digital banking options.

The branch in Southwell will close on September 27.

The Bingham branch of NatWest, which is in the Market Place, has told customers it is closing just nine months after reassuring customers it had no plans to shut its doors.

It will make its last transactions on September 26.

Susan Kirkham, has been using NatWest, Southwell, for 50 years, said she was considering moving to another bank.

Mrs Kirkham, who lives in Brinkley, said: "It is a disgrace.

"It is just another thing closing in Southwell.

"I know a lot of people, particularly businesses will be affected by this.

"As a family we have banked with NatWest for 50 years, but I will have to look at moving to another bank.

"I am not interested in internet banking because I don't trust it and I am not keen on mobile banking either."

Mrs Kirkham said she received a phone call from the bank to inform her of the closure.

A NatWest spokesman said: "We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure 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."

Bingham Town Council raised concerns the branch would shut in July of last year when it cut its hours to 10am to 3pm, but it received a letter from NatWest saying there were no plans to close it.

NatWest closed its Radcliffe branch in 2015 shortly after cutting the opening hours of the branch.

A spokesman for NatWest denied to the Advertiser cutting the hours at a branch was a precursor to a branch closure.

It said the number of transactions in the Bingham branch had declined by 28% since 2011 and again cited the figures for online and mobile transactions to back up its case.

It said customers were choosing to bank in a different way with 68% of customers choosing digital banking options.

Tony Churcher, a NatWest customer who lives near Bingham, said: "It is a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you reduce bank hours you reduce bank usage.

"It will be extremely difficult to pay in cheques and cash; especially difficult for small local businesses and the elderly.

"The next phase will be the abolition of cheques in favour of online banking as they aren't used as much.

"It is another example of rural communities losing local facilities and at a time when the Bingham and Aslockton area is set to expand."

NatWest said it had employed a community banker who would serve the Bingham area and provide customers with personal assistance and support accessing bank options.

Customers have been advised they can access services online, over the phone and at cash points.

Customers have been informed they can use the Post Office for a range of banking services, or visit the West Bridgford branch.

The Ollerton branch of NatWest shut in July. The banking giant said there were no plans to shut the branch in Newark Market or cut its hours.