A bank closure in Beeston has been labelled a 'shame' by shoppers who have been left to ponder the future of the 'lovely' building. NatWest recently announced its branch in High Road will close on January 25, 2023.
The bank said this was a result of mobile and online banking reducing the number of people using the branch. NatWest said in Beeston the number of counter transactions dropped by 70 percent between January 2019 and January 2022
The branch was also only used by three personal customers regularly in 2021, with 104 business customers using the bank regularly within the same period. Some locals thought the closure would affect the elderly, while others suggested what they thought was suitable to replace the bank once closed.
Read more: NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland announce the closure of branches across Nottingham
John Naylor, 57, who works in insurance and lives in Wollaton, said: "It's a bit unfortunate, I bank there myself. It's a shame because old people might struggle without it.
"I will have to go into town now, but it might be an issue for the elderly to do that. The other issue I suppose is what will replace it once the bank has gone - it's a prominent spot.
"It is a lovely building so hopefully it can be converted into something and keep its look. It could make for a good café."
Darren Bolger, 47, who lives in Bilborough but has used the bank in the past, said: "I think closing all these banks is a bad idea, not everyone does online banking - what are older people supposed to do.
"It going to be trickier for them and cause them trouble if they're not good with technology. I prefer to go into a bank and talk to someone, but everything has changed with the internet.
"I hope it doesn't get turned into another café. All these shops that close get turned into restaurants or cafés - we do with more actual shops."
Others said the closure was 'inevitable'. Michael West, 75, from Attenborough, said: "I'm sure it will be an inconvenience but it is the way things are going, we still have a few banks here. I don't think it will be missed that much, I bank online now and so do a lot of other people.
"It was inevitable and to be expected but for as long as I can remember it has been a bank. I don't want it to be empty as it is an attractive building - if they keep it looking similar but find a different use that would be ideal."
The Beeston branch is one of 43 NatWest has announced will close. The bank listed its NatWest Long Eaton, NatWest Nottingham Smiths Bank, and NatWest Basford as the closest alternatives for customers. A guide sent to customers, said: "With the ease of mobile and online banking fewer people are coming into the bank. This means we’ve had to make some tough choices about which can stay open. So, we want to make sure that we keep the branches people are using most."
NatWest said they had considered banking preferences, where the nearest branch and nearest cash machines are, and if there was local Post Office for everyday banking before making a decision on the branch's future. Bulwell and Hucknall's NatWest banks were previously closed.
Barclays in Chilwell Road, Beeston, also shut its doors for the final time on September 9. This was similarly due to a reduction in counter transactions.
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