People in West Bridgford have had their say on what they would like to see replace a HSBC bank which is set to close. The bank on Central Avenue will shut along with the HSBC branch in Bath Street, Ilkeston as the company makes a shift to online banking.
HSBC has said it will shut 69 bank branches amid the shift to online banking, in a move affecting around 400 staff, which aims to act as a 'transformation' in how they operate within individual communities. A spokesman for the bank said that it hopes to redeploy all 400 staff to new roles within 15 miles of their homes.
West Bridgford's HSBC will shut on September 15 this year and the Ilkeston bank branch will close on September 22, the bank has confirmed. For those living in West Bridgford, the prospect of an empty shop on such a prominent street is a "shame" - and also an opportunity for another business to potentially move in once it does close its doors.
Read more about plans for a new fish and chip shop in a West Bridgford retail park.
Ashleigh Pithers, 26, from Sneinton, who runs Fordes Coffee Shop said: “It’s very annoying it’s closing because now I have to go all the way to town, and sometimes you want that face-to-face interaction instead of online. As long as it’s not another charity shop, there’s too many on the high street.”
Jayne Ward, 59, Bingham, who works as a company director said: “It’s a terrible shame, I come from Bingham and they closed the NatWest branch there and it caused a great inconvenience to the residents there and it’ll no doubt be the same here. Although I do understand lots of people do online banking these days, closing branches like this affects the elderly and vulnerable in society who may not be quite as tech savvy. It’s just profit over convenience.”
Niamh Coulam, 21, West Bridgford, said: “I don’t mind it closing really, there’s a lot of banks around I think. I’d like to see it replaced with a little independent shop maybe, or a cute little cafe. Nottingham has a really good reputation for indie businesses outside of London I think.”
Jackie Uhi, head of HSBC UK’s branch network, said: “The way people bank is changing – something the pandemic has accelerated. Our branches continue to support people with their more complex banking needs, but the way we can do this has also evolved, with the addition of banking hubs, community pop ups and continued use of the Post Office network.
"Rather than a one-size-fits-all branch approach, it’s an approach built around the way different customers are choosing to bank in different areas.”
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