“You don’t want to talk to a robot all the time, you want to talk to a person in front of you who can sort the problem out,” explains Dennis Clarke, voicing his frustration over the closure of yet another bank.
NatWest’s decision to shut its Cheadle branch in February means there is only one bank in the wider area - NatWest in Heald Green - where people can get face-to-face customer service. There are around 40,000 homes across the constituency.
While many have now converted to online banking, Dennis describes the situation as ‘terrible’ - having already seen his nearest Barclays and NatWest branches in Gatley close over recent years. “It’s not really good enough, if you have a problem, how can you sort things out?” questions the 75-year-old - who adds that customers can also face a lengthy wait if they call for advice.
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Local councillors fear for vulnerable residents - particularly the elderly - and small businesses who rely heavily on cash and in-person services. They believe the lack of banking facilities is already having a detrimental impact on the community.
