Following the announcement that Natwest bank in Aldridge is due to close in July, I led a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament yesterday to raise the real concerns about access to cash, and access to services and advice.
The topic of bank branch closures and the need for banking hubs has been raised in the House of Commons by Members from across both sides of the Chamber, and so I was pleased by the support I received from other colleagues.
Banks are an important part of the fabric of our high streets and communities for many residents, charities, and local businesses.
Since January 2015, around 5300 banks and building societies have closed or announced the closure of a branch. This is equivalent to almost 54 per month.
It was helpful to hear from the Minister and to understand that the Government recognises the real concern about losing access to bank branches, but we also discussed the need for greater clarity and speed in rolling out community banking hubs, the role of the Post Office, and the need for a modern, flexible banking system that meets the needs of customers, businesses, local charities and organisations alike. I will keep following this matter as following the closure of NatWest it means we will just be left with one bank in the entire constituency – HSBC in Aldridge.
A link to the debate is here: https://tinyurl.com/5n7jyf68