This worries me

HSBC has closed all branches across our 14 villages. Now one has to travel up to 15 miles to the nearest existing (for te moment) branch. Yet today on opening my HSBC online banking I get a huge notice o the screen: "You Cannot Do Business If You Are Closed". The irony is completely lost on these idiots who make a proffesion of being closed and staying closed. Every time they "upgrade" the online banking it results in chaos...cannot log on.... info not available... try again later. What hey really mean to say is "Bugger Off, we do not want your small account". If everey computer glitch they have results in a billion pound fine they would (maybe) wake up.

Scam hackers must think it's a complete Godsend to have the banks closing branches and pushing/bullying us towards online banking - it must make the job of defrauding us of our money at the click of a mouse so very much easier!

Grapefruit. I gave up when Bradford and Bingley became Santander and transferred to a bank that is now seeing closures in our high streets.I believe that 21c will see the closure of more of these on site banks and we will all end up banking online .If its companionship you are looking for, having a good old chat etc , then there are many like yourself and the people to help are the British Red Cross. and Age Concern. Give them a try.

Of course, there is no reason they have to close branches because more people do it online. They are making just as much profit, and they don't need to increase the number of staff working on the online systems just because more people are using it - the cost is the same no matter how many! So therefore if they wanted to, and if they were not just greedy to save more and more money to pay shareholders, then they could keep the branches open as well!

How sad that our banks are disappearing. I bank with Santander and just hope it will not go, as unfortunately I am one of those weirdos who does not do online banking, Just don't trust online with my money, not that I have much, but every penny is precious.

I am sorry Grapefruit that you have no friends and think that the bank staff are your friends. It would be a good idea to make proper friends . Perhaps ask a neighbour to coffee or tea and get to know them. Then once you know them suggest you go into town for a stroll and stop for a nice lunch somewhere. Good luck.

I bank with Santander (fortunately they are not closing my branch). I do most of my banking, bill payment etc . online but once a month call into the branch to get cash and it is always busy. I don't trust cash machines and refuse to use them.

I don’t think I’ve stepped foot in my branch in about 20 years, partly because I live abroad, but I still kept my original account in the same branch I’ve had for more than 30 years.
I just do everything online now.
I don’t even have a bank account in the country I live in.

DH showed me an article in the paper a few moments ago regarding Santander. "I think we need to change our account" says he, I agree, our nearest branch is already a 20min drive to another town away. If they close that one it will be 30mins down the motorway !

We had 5 banks in our small market town, only one now left which I'm happy to say is my own bank. I do on-line banking but on occasion need to call into the actual bank especially if I have a query. Helpful as the staff on the help lines may be, nothing beats a 'face to face' for getting a difficulty sorted. My bank is only a 15 minute walk away. 5 minutes in the car.

My dh's bank was one that closed down and his account was transferred to a town 12 miles distant. Then that one closed and he has to go 28 miles to 'his branch'. And silly man doesn't do on line banking.

I found it invaluable to visit the bank when my dad died. So much easier face to face. For the rest I bank online.

I do think that many people prefer a face-to-face interaction with bank staff rather than conduct their business online.

grapefruit I do hope you have some groups locally which you can join and meet more people; the bank staff may be friendly but that is because it is their job - they are not your friends.

The last bank in our large village closed just before Christmas. (There were 4 when we moved here 10 years ago). As a consequence, all the shops, restaurants and cafes in the village now take contactless payments. Paying in cash must be a nightmare for them!

You're over- thinking.
Santander or any bank does not hold everyone's cash in a vault. It's invested, probably and actually in companies and ww conglomerates at extortionate rates of interest which is how they make most of their money.
Even your wages or pensions are not actually sent in hard cash to your bank to be put in your account. It's all done via the ether.
My advice is to get out more and make real friends, not think up reasons to go to the bank in order to have a social interaction with the teller.

Should add that i NEVER log on to the app over public wifi. i just do it at home.

I resisted online banking for a long time, but once I gave in and stopped being stubborn I find the Lloyds mobile app really easy. Have also discovered that our village post office is equipped to pay in cheques so I can understand why branches are closing.

My mother's bank was the last one standing in her town - and then that building burnt down! They decided not to rebuild so there are no banking facilities within about 10 miles apart from the post office.

The main post office closing was more of a bind than the bank as it was moved to a hardware store(!) where staff couldn't manage so that also closed. It's now in a local pharmacy - just the place you expect a PO to be.

Anyway, my mum is 91yo and isn't online but she manages very well in her own way.

We have lost Barclays and RBS in the last few weeks.
I bank with Lloyds but have now registered for online banking for myself and my H for whom have POA.
It is a sign of the times and although I am 81 I keep up with technology.
We will all have to do it.

We have a number of banks still in town but I cant remember when I last used one I do it all online, hole in the wall and if any problems ring the help line
I m with missadventure have some chat time with a coffee with a friend with shop assistants with folks in the bus queue Change is never easy to accept especially as we get older but unfortunately it’s inevitable Don’t stay in your house because the High street will keep on changing

We may have to accept a reduction in the number of High Street banks because of the growth of on-line banking, but it is a big problem for many people when the last bank in their town closes.

Perhaps local councils should try to help the last bank to stay open, even if only for a few days a week. Sadly successive governments have taken more and more funding away from councils so it becomes more difficult for them to serve their communities.

We have a TSB and a Barclays in the big village/very small town I live in. I bank with one of them. I don't visit very often but whenever I do it seems to be very well used (usually have to queue). I think the local shopkeepers use them regularly; you can't deposit cash takings on-line.

Perhaps fewer people bank on-line up here in my part of the NE.

We are lucky to have a Metro bank in town. They have gone back to old fashioned face to face banking.
You walk in and somebody will greet you immediately and help.
DH is always forgetting his online password. He can just go into the branch and they'll help him reset it.
We're glad we left Santander!

DH had a query re changing the type of account we have and wanted to see someone in the bank face to face to talk through the possibilities. She was very curt and quite unhelpful because he didn't want to change there and then. I told him he could do it online when he wants to.
Surely the staff should try to be pleasant with customers if they don't want to drive them away?
This was not Santander, btw, our branch closed long ago.

My bank has closed and I get the odd call from my 'personal bank manager' or whatever the latest name given to this position is. I never respond in case it's not real. If I want to know something I'd ring their contact number. Most of my banking is now online

I cannot remember the last time I visited a bank or needed to speak to someone. I bank online now. I rarely carry much cash either.

I can however appreciate that some people much prefer a more personal system and human reassurance with monetary matters.

Banks seem to be closing everywhere. A sign of the times.

You could go out for lunch, maybe?
I do understand what you mean though; its very unsettling watching things change so rapidly.