Anger over NatWest bank closures across Kent

KentOnline / KMTV

NatWest branches in Ramsgate, Paddock Wood and Rainham will be closed later this year. The bank states only few people are using the branches on a regular basis - something locals are disputing.

Transcript

00:00 Another day, another bank disappearing from Reynham's High Street.

00:04 The NatWest branch here is just one of several branches from across Kent that are facing

00:09 closure including in Ramsgate, Dover and Gravesend.

00:13 NatWest say the closures are due to less people banking in person.

00:18 As you can see over my shoulder plenty of people using this NatWest bank branch.

00:23 But NatWest say only two people used it a week in 2023 for personal business.

00:29 But I've seen dozens of people using it throughout today and I'm not the only one.

00:34 To me NatWest are using completely misleading information to justify this closure.

00:40 They claim that two people a week use this bank.

00:43 I've been here a few minutes and I've seen more than two people just in that few minutes.

00:48 So their data that they're using to justify this is completely, completely wrong.

00:53 Here we go, another closure, another stab in your local high street from the big banks

01:01 putting profit before people.

01:03 We spoke to an elderly lady yesterday and she was in tears.

01:07 She'd only just found out she was crying in there because she didn't know how she was

01:12 going to be able to do her banking.

01:14 But not everyone is concerned about the loss of high street banking.

01:17 Do you prefer online banking is easier?

01:20 I do.

01:21 It's more convenient instead of having to travel, just start an eight day, especially

01:27 bank payments and stuff.

01:29 NatWest say more than 700 million transactions happened online, meaning demand for in-person

01:36 banking has dropped.

01:38 But councillors in the area are worried what this means for the elderly who can't deal

01:43 with digital.

01:44 Well I think it's a great shame, particularly for older people.

01:46 I think the majority of younger people, of course, are very versed with online banking

01:52 and maybe that may not be quite so difficult for them.

01:55 But I think that older people who are not used to online banking are going to feel,

02:02 again, more alienated from banking services and so on.

02:07 And that becomes quite important to them as they get older.

02:10 And I think that it's a great shame that they have to do this now.

02:15 NatWest were reproached for comment.

02:17 The Reynham branch will remain open until the end of July.

02:21 And while there may be other branches available in Chatham and Sittingbourne, the future looks

02:26 increasingly uncertain for those who prefer banking in person.

02:31 Oliver Leeds of the Saks reporting for KMTV.

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