Leominster bank to close its doors next summer

Natwest, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, announced this week it had taken the 'difficult decision' to close its branch on Broad Street from June 12 2017.

The decision follows big changes to the way people choose to do their banking, with the number of transactions in the Leominster branch having declined by 21% since 2011.

Approximately 51% of the customers of the branch are actively choosing to use online and or mobile banking for their day to day banking needs, Natwest said.

The news comes shortly after it was announced Kington would be left without a bank after its final high street branch announced its closure.

HSBC, which has also announced plans to close its Hay-on-Wye branch, will close in February.

In a statement, Natwest said: "We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable and regular branch customers. We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months.

"This has been done in order to ensure our customers have time to consider the right banking options for them.

"We are committed to ensuring our customers and communities are able to continue accessing quality banking services."

The bank said a new 'community banker' will serve the local area, providing customers with help and support, while digital experts will also help customers with digital skills ahead of the closure.

"We are following the access to banking protocol and we have made the decision after careful consideration of a wide range of factors, including regular branch usage and the alternative ways our customers can bank with us," the statement said.

Alternative ways to bank with Natwest include online and mobile, over the phone, at the Leominster Post Office or at one of the 11 free to use ATMs within one mile of the branch.

The nearest Natwest branch is in Ludlow, 11 miles away.