Another bank is closing another branch in Brighton, it emerged today (Friday 31 March).
The NatWest in Pavilion Buildings, in Castle Square, Brighton, is due to close for good on Wednesday 16 August
It was one of 81 closures announced by the Lloyds and NatWest groups.
The news brings the total number of branches shutting this year to more than 200, according to the PA (Press Association) news agency.
The latest announcement by the two banking groups covered five subsidiaries – the Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
It follows an announcement last November by HSBS that a branch in Hove was to shut this spring.
The company said that not enough people were banking in person since the coronavirus pandemic.
The branch in Church Road was one of 114 earmarked for closure across the county.
In order to save money, and increase profits, this is what the banks are doing.
They reduce opening hours, then when the footfall has reduced because of this, they close the branch, saying it’s because no-one uses it…
I don’t believe this. Every time I have been in the branch, it has been full to brimming with customers.
I’ve used this branch several times to deposit donations on behalf of a charity. When the change counting machine works it’s fine. But last time it was out of action and had to walk up to Churchill square. They did not have a counter service and nearly could not accept the coin chitty and the cash deposit as I did not have the Card for the account – Only the paying in slip! The manager detected my disappointment and kindly opened a till just for me as I had been told by castle square to come to them. I would hate to loose the branch in Castle square but hope that Churchill square open the teller counters. It must be disappointing for businesses or people using cash to deposit their takings and I expect these bank closures to hasten the demise of physical money. I guess many businesses will be considering switching to another bank just for the convenience of having a branch they can access.
It’s is simply the banks and governments forcing us all to go online and use cards to pay for everything just watch in a few years time charges to withdraw and use cards will all go up We all laugh at big daddy jokes but it is coming true
I am appalled by the ignorance and selfishness of some people who oppose the closure of bank branches. Do they not realize how much energy, resources and quinoa are wasted by these obsolete institutions?
As a green activist and a swimmer, I know firsthand the effects of climate change and pollution on our oceans and wildlife. Closing bank branches is a small but necessary step to reduce our carbon footprint and transition to a more sustainable and digital economy. In addition, the freed-up retail space will help address Brighton’s dire shortage of plastic-free vegan supermarkets. You may laugh at this suggestion, but Brighton’s provision of such retailers is dismal compared to the likes of Kensington and Shoreditch.
After announcing my recent withdrawl from the Green Party, I will be standing as a candidate for the Green Swimmer Activism Party in May’s election in the newly-created Stanmer and Saltdean ward (joined by fellow defectors Quentin Prole, ex-Labour, and Iona Bently, ex-Conservative).
If you vote for me, I will deliver a robust agenda of improving quinoa provision in the city, as well as manatee-friendly planning policy. The latter was tragically omitted from the City Plan Part 2, despite my numerous protests outside Portslade Town Hall.
Lols…If you were in Kemptown ward I would vote for you..