Bank branch closures

[Eric Mc]

The ability to access branches is getting less and less as they are gradually closed down. That's the problems. Where I am is fine - although there have been some closures there is still at least one branch of the main high street names remaining. In other parts of the country (and not all that remote either) it's quite a different story.

That well known rural backwater full of impecunious peasants called Haslemere no longer has a branch of ANY bank.

[Robertj21a]

Eric Mc said:

The ability to access branches is getting less and less as they are gradually closed down. That's the problems. Where I am is fine - although there have been some closures there is still at least one branch of the main high street names remaining. In other parts of the country (and not all that remote either) it's quite a different story.

That well known rural backwater full of impecunious peasants called Haslemere no longer has a branch of ANY bank.

I trust that Haslemere peasants are revolting !

I also trust that Haslemere still has a Post Office, which can handle most routine banking transactions.

[HappySilver]

Has it got Post Office?

What do you want to do in the branches that you cannot do via other means? E.g. a community banker visiting you at home, a call centre, a nATM, in the post office etc. etc.

Would you be prepared to pay for banking if that meant you had a local branch?

[Robertj21a]

According to Royal Mail, in 2017 there were 11,659 post offices in the UK. It's quite difficult to believe that it can be that far to travel to find one !

[oyster]

RicksAlfas said:

Eric Mc said:

And yet, whenever I pop into my local bank branches (for various reasons I need to use Lloyds, Barclays and Natwest) - they ALL have queues.

Mine too. I use Yorkshire Bank regularly (we still receive a lot of cheques at work) and HSBC occasionally and both are always busy.

This is because they run the counter staff at an absolute minimum because there isn't much demand.

[RicksAlfas]

oyster said:

This is because they run the counter staff at an absolute minimum because there isn't much demand.

HSBC has two counters, both usually staffed. Yorkshire Bank have three counters plus a reception desk and three out of any four are usually manned. It's more due to bank closures elsewhere locally which have put more customers into these branches.

[condor]

Just under 2 months since I started this thread and was in my local branch the other day. I wanted to cancel a 'contactless' debit card I'd just received and to get a replacement card that needed a pin number. It was some palaver and was told there wasn't an option for a non-contactless card, however, the staff member did their best and said I would receive a replacement card shortly in the post.
I also said I was prepared to go online as I'd read they used card readers for authorisation - which I do think is a secure way of online banking. However, I wanted nothing to do with mobile apps or mobile banking. The person that dealt with on-line banking was at lunch so I'd have to come another day as she needed to show me how to use it.
On a convenience level - with the bank closing in November, my account number and sort code stay the same. Also since I opened the account over 30 years ago I don't need to have a specific sum paid in each month. I've found it difficult to find a local current bank account that doesn't insist on a minimum monthly payment.

[V8mate]

condor said:

I've found it difficult to find a local current bank account that doesn't insist on a minimum monthly payment.

All banks offer a 'basic' bank account with no frills. I *think* they have to, by law.

[FiF]

To those who say "pay for your banking," I have several accounts, as does MrsF, they all charge a fee. Branches still closing btw.

[V8mate]

FiF said:

To those who say "pay for your banking," I have several accounts, as does MrsF, they all charge a fee. Branches still closing btw.

The fee is for enhanced features though, right?

Straight bat, please!

[condor]

Further to my original post, my local RBS branch has been shut 2 months. I have been able to use my local post office for nearly all my banking needs. My main Credit card payment, that I was concerned about, has been put on an 'online authorisation' which I've used and is more convenient than going into town.
However, today I needed to get some advice about how I was to pay my tax bill as you can't pay it at the post office anymore. I also had a cheque to pay in, but wasn't sure if the RBS paying in slip still worked as there isn't a branch now. So, I drive into town and visit the Nat West branch...as RBS owns them, supposedly I can do anything in a Nat West branch that I could do in my old RBS branch. There are no traditional cashier tills there, a row of 6 computerised terminals, 2 of which you take money out - the other 4 you can pay money in. There was a single Nat West guide that showed you how to use the paying in ATM, there was a queue 6 deep for her 'help'. I needed my RBS debit card otherwise I would be charged £10 to pay my tax bill!
It wasn't a pleasant experience, and with the queue behind me building up, the guide rushed through the help by pressing all the buttons for me.

[Robertj21a]

condor said:

Further to my original post, my local RBS branch has been shut 2 months. I have been able to use my local post office for nearly all my banking needs. My main Credit card payment, that I was concerned about, has been put on an 'online authorisation' which I've used and is more convenient than going into town.
However, today I needed to get some advice about how I was to pay my tax bill as you can't pay it at the post office anymore. I also had a cheque to pay in, but wasn't sure if the RBS paying in slip still worked as there isn't a branch now. So, I drive into town and visit the Nat West branch...as RBS owns them, supposedly I can do anything in a Nat West branch that I could do in my old RBS branch. There are no traditional cashier tills there, a row of 6 computerised terminals, 2 of which you take money out - the other 4 you can pay money in. There was a single Nat West guide that showed you how to use the paying in ATM, there was a queue 6 deep for her 'help'. I needed my RBS debit card otherwise I would be charged £10 to pay my tax bill!
It wasn't a pleasant experience, and with the queue behind me building up, the guide rushed through the help by pressing all the buttons for me.

Surprised to hear that you can't pay a tax bill at the Post Office. Don't they still have an appropriate banking form attached to them ?

[ninja-lewis]

Robertj21a said:

Surprised to hear that you can't pay a tax bill at the Post Office. Don't they still have an appropriate banking form attached to them ?

Tax bills used to be paid at Post Offices via the Girobank Transcash manual payment system. Santander replaced it with an new electronic bill payment system in 2017 but HMRC didn't sign up for it.

The Post Office's financial services are provided under Bank of Ireland's banking licence.

Tax payments can only be made at banks if you still receive paper tax statements and have the paying-in slip.

[Eric Mc]

HMRC removed the ability to pay at Post Offices a year or so ago. They also removed the ability to pay your income tax bill by personal credit card - although you can use a company credit card for some odd reason.

It's almost like they want to make things harder for tax payers.