OPENING hours at a Hay-on-Wye bank will be reduced.

Natwest will be closing the town's branch for four days a week from August 15.

It will now be open between 10.30am and 2.30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, meaning it is closed during the town's Thursday market.

Currently the bank is open every weekday between 10am and 3pm.

Newly re-elected assembly member for the area Kirsty Williams has requested a meeting to challenge Natwest bosses about the changes.

She said: "Banks have a duty of care to their customers in rural areas, people in rural areas do not always have access to things like phone and internet banking.

"I've requested an urgent meeting with the bosses of Natwest to discuss these changes and will be contacting the UK Government to see what they are doing to protect banking in rural areas because clearly, much more needs to be done."

And Andrew Williams, representing Hay and District Chamber of Commerce is encouraging people to keep using the bank to show the need for it in the town.

A spokesman for Natwest said that the changes have been brought in due to a 46 per cent fall in branch transactions.

Customers will be able to pay money in, take money out, check their balance and get business coinage at any of the four post offices within five miles of the branch, they said.

The spokesman added: "We will be writing to our customers who use the branch in advance of the changes to opening hours and we will also display posters in the branch.

"Between now and the change, we will engage with our customers, local businesses and the local community to make sure they are aware of the alternative ways of accessing their banking in the local area, and to answer any questions they might have."