A BUSINESSMAN is reporting a bank for false advertising after it slashed the opening hours of its Bromyard branch.

NatWest has promised longer opening hours and a will to become Britain’s most helpful bank in its latest TV campaign.

But Keith Butler says the claims don’t back-up in Bromyard – where opening times have just been cut to eight hours a week.

Mr Butler is a former Hereford United commercial manager who runs a successful mug printing business in Whitbourne.

His recent clients include MK Dons, Barnsley and Gillingham FC and a host of sports clubs across Britain and Europe.

The 56-year-old spent nearly £500 switching his account to NatWest early this year because of its services and locality.

But that was before the High Street bank cut its opening times from seven hours daily to just four on Monday and Thursday.

“It’s disrupting my cash flow as I can’t cash cheques most days. It’s highly inconvenient to me,” said Mr Butler.

“You see these adverts where they’re driving around the country and say they’re expanding to rural areas but that’s not happening here.

“I’m going to the advertising standards board because they’re saying one thing and doing another.”

Bromyard Town Council has also complained to NatWest insisting the bank has reneged on its customer charter.

The 16-point charter, promoted in the latest adverts, includes commitments on making banking easier, extending opening hours and to actively support the communities in which it works.

Charlotte Benson, NatWest manager for group customer relations, blamed the reduction on a cost-cutting exercise and fewer customer numbers. She said in a letter to councillors that the decision was not taken lightly and could be reviewed.