Natwest Bank in Formby is closing down

The NatWest bank in Formby will close its doors for good in six months time. Banking giant NatWest has claimed the reasons for the closures are due to significant changes in how people choose to bank.

The Formby branch will close on October 9th. The nearest branch for those living in the village will then be Great Crosby (Liverpool Road).

A letter to account holders in Formby said: "With more of our customers choosing to use telephone, online and mobile banking services than ever before, we're having to make some difficult decisions about our branch network. Unfortunately, we'll be closing NatWest Formby branch on 09 October 2017. We're here to help you in any way we can."

It went on to say: "If you hold any Safe Custody items in NatWest Formby branch, please make arrangements to collect these items before the branch closes on 09 October 2017 as we are unable to continue to offer you this service."

"You can use your debit card to take out cash and check your balance at the Post Office, where you can also use your pay-in book to make deposits."

This will leave HSBC, Barclays, TSB, RBS and Santander in Formby village.

According to figures from Natwest, between 2010-2015 both mobile and online transaction increased by more than 400% while those inside a branch declined dramatically.

Six across Merseyside will close - including the Formby branch on Brows Lane. They are also closing Huyton, Kirkby, Liverpool One, Liverpool University and Heswall branches.

Natwest say they will be communicating with all customers affected by the closures, making a conscious effort towards those who rely on visiting their local branch.

Those who prefer to visit a bank will have until September and October to make the most of the cashier services.

Natwest also have an agreement with the Post Office which will mean customers will be provided with a range of banking services there. Now ANYONE can use their local Post Office like their bank - and they're open on Sunday too.

An RBS spokesman said: “Many more customers are choosing to do their banking using mobile and online services over traditional branch counters. We interact with our customers over 20 times more through digital channels than physical ones."

“We have 4.2 million personal mobile users, up by over two million since 2014. As customers change the way they bank with us, we must change the way we serve them.”

Following the closures there will be 151 RBS and 856 NatWest branches left.

Unite acting general secretary Gail Cartmail said: “The RBS Group is turning its back on the communities that have been the foundation of its business for generations. That’s bad news for our members who now have to live with the threat of redundancy – and it’s bad news for customers and businesses."

“Banks have a duty to the wider community and that is especially the case for banks like RBS that have large taxpayer-owned shareholdings. People like the face-to-face contact that having a physical presence in the high street provides."

“Pensioners, people with mobility issues, and those without internet access are being particularly hard-hit – especially in rural areas. Small businesses are also badly affected – especially those that rely on cash-handing."

“It’s time for banking regulators and government to intervene, to force banks to maintain an adequate network that properly serves communities across the UK.”