Big blow to town as Yorkshire Bank anounces branch closure
YORKSHIRE Bank has announced it will close its branch in Hinckley town centre.
The Market Place bank will close on June 14 as part of a wider programme which will see 79 branches shut across the UK.
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banking Group blamed the shift to online and mobile banking for the closures.
It is not known yet how many jobs are at risk.
The group said in a statement: “The bank’s first priority is to our customers and we will be working extensively with impacted customers, local communities and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the transition to their new branch is as smooth and as sensitive as possible, particularly where vulnerable customers are concerned.”
The Coalville branch is also set to close on June 8.
Posters will be placed at each affected location advising customers of the impending closures.
Written notification will be sent at least 12 weeks before any branch closes advising customers on the alternative ways of managing their accounts, including their nearest branches, ATMs and Post Office counters - which Yorkshire Bank customers can use for day-today banking.
A spokeswoman said it was not yet possible to say how many jobs would be affected in Leicestershire.
The bank said its intention is “to try to find roles for frontline branch staff either within other branches or elsewhere in the bank, wherever possible”.
The spokesman added: “However, there will inevitably be employee number reductions as a result of these changes. We anticipate that around 200 Yorkshire Bank staff will be at risk of redundancy and subject to our redeployment process. All employees affected by these changes will be fully supported through the process.”
Gavin Opperman, customer banking director at Yorkshire Bank, said: “While the decision to close any branch is never an easy one, it is important that we, in line with other banks operating in the UK market, continue to respond to changes in the way customers want to bank with us.
“The changes announced today continue our journey towards a model that combines an enhanced digital platform with a right sized branch network; allowing customers to interact with us through a wide range of channels – mobile, online, telephone, in-branch – whenever and however they want.”