NATWEST customers have been told cheques may take longer to clear if they use its services at the Post Office when the town’s branch closes.
The bank has also been criticised for not knowing how many ATMs would be left in Barnard Castle when its branch shuts in May. NatWest is closing its Market Place bank despite protests.
Many residents are upset about the loss of face-to-face services. However, NatWest has told them they can use its online banking or take advantage of the bank’s arrangement with the Post Office, which allows customers to use a range of banking services. One customer has revealed an exchange of letters between him and senior bosses at NatWest.
He described the reasons given for closing the bank as “sanctimonious claptrap”.
He went on: “As the treasurer of an organisation perhaps you can tell me where I can find the time to queue in the local post office to change cash, lodge cheques and leave letters in relation to the accounts? Unlike the branch, I do not believe that the Post Office has a letter box to drop letters in when it is closed. Do you really expect people to drive the dozen or so miles to Bishop Auckland to talk to a member of staff?”
The man, who lives in town, added: “As for using a debit card to take out cash from the Post Office, so far as I am aware our local Post Office has a cash machine inside the branch so this can only be accessed during the day during ‘office hours’ – not exactly helpful if you are not in the town during the day.”
NatWest had told customers there were nine free-to-use cash machines within three miles. However, in reality there are only six machines in this area. The only one open 24 hours a day is at Barclays in town.
“If the bank can get something so simple so totally incorrect then what faith can we have in any of the other statistics provided by the bank regarding this closure?” added the anonymous customer, who suggested many NatWest customers would move to Barclays to help support the last remaining bank.
NatWest was also asked how long it would take from making a deposit at the Post Office to the funds being credited to an account.
Amanda Grenfell, chief executive officer for customer distribution at NatWest in County Durham, said.“If cash is paid into the Post Office ahead of the outlet cut off time, it will be added to the account the next working day. The cheque clearing cycle commences when the cheque is received at the bank, not the Post Office, which means that the cheque will take a day longer to clear. The Post Office will not have dedicated letter box for Natwest customers to use to drop letters/information.”
NatWest says the rise in online banking has led to the decision to close the bank.
Ms Grenfell said: “The town branch has seen a reduction of 21,000 transactions in the last five years which is a 33 per cent decline. Of the total customers using the branch 75 per cent of these also use digital, telephony and ATMs as well, preferring the speed and convenience of these options. The branch has only 69 business and personal customers that now use the branch every week and of those, 30 are already using our other branches as well.”
A petition has been launched by county councillor Richard Bell in protest to and is available to sign at the Teesdale Mercury’s shop at 24 Market Place, Barnard Castle.
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