Bishop Auckland’s NatWest branch will close, sparking anger from local councillor Sam Zair over its impact on the community.
Bishop Auckland: Last week, NatWest announced it would close its Newgate Street branch. This is part of a plan to shut 53 branches across the UK.
The bank reported only 216 personal customers visit this branch monthly. They noted a 57% drop in counter transactions since 2019.
Councillor Sam Zair expressed his disappointment. He believes the closure will hurt the high street, effective April 29.
He told The Northern Echo that he feels for the residents who rely on the bank. Zair criticized the banking sector for not considering the public’s needs.
He also questioned the data used for the decision, which includes pandemic years. Zair wants updated figures from 2022 to 2024 for a fair assessment.
NatWest didn’t respond directly to Zair’s concerns. However, they stated they would reach out to support affected customers.
After the closure, NatWest plans to set up a cashless community pop-up for 12 weeks. This will help residents with banking needs and digital services.
NatWest’s closure follows HSBC’s decision to shut its Newgate Street branch in 2022. Zair urges the community not to accept these changes quietly.
He believes people will feel there’s nothing left in town if they don’t act. Zair insists that giving up is not an option.
A NatWest spokesperson mentioned that over 80% of customers now use digital banking. They are investing in improving services and branch experiences.
They also aim to support those uncomfortable with digital banking, having made over 200,000 outreach calls last year.
