Villages to lose RBS branches in cuts
THE Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has included two West Lancashire sites in a list of 54 branches to close down in 2019.
Burscough and Parbold’s branches, on Liverpool Road North and the Common respectively, will shut their doors for the final time on January 19.
Burscough residents will be left facing a trip of nine miles to Southport for their nearest branch, although RBS customers can also use the Natwest bank in Ormskirk some services.
Those in Parbold will have to travel six miles to Wigan for their nearest branch, with Standish, Pemberton and Croston all earmarked for closure.
RBS customers can also use the Post Office to withdraw and pay in cash and deposit cheques.
Other branches to close in January include Croston, Maghull, Formby.
The RBS bank in Ormskirk is already due to close later this year, having been included in a list of 162 closures announced in May.
According to RBS, which is still 62% owned for by the taxpayer, the closures are being made in response to changes in the way people bank, with an large increase in the number of people using mobile and online banking in recent years.
Explaining its decision, RBS said that over-counter transactions had reduced 46% at Burscough Bridge since 2012 and by 36% in Parbold.
It also stated that just 47 customers used the Parbold branch on a “regular basis”, and 34 in Burscough. Both branches currently open three days a week.
But unions slammed the decision as “disgraceful” and customers are also angry and disappointed.
One Burscough resident, who did not wish to be named, said they would be now forced to change bank for the first time since 1975.
West Lancashire MP Rosie Cooper said: “RBS is a taxpayer-funded bank who are simply withdrawing from the north of England.
“In our area there will only be two RBS banks: one in Liverpool and one in Southport. This is simply not good enough.
“As the taxpayer owns 62.4% of the bank, I am calling on the Chancellor to hold RBS to account and ensure that taxpayers are treated fairly wherever they live and are not just looking after those in the south of England.
“RBS needs to explain why they have turned their back on the North West and explain why this area has been hit so much harder than the rest of the country.”
Announcing the news, a spokesman for RBS said: “As customers change the way they bank with us, we must change the way that we serve them and this means that some branches will have to close. Closing a branch is a decision we take very seriously.
“We know it can affect people in the local area and we’ll always work hard to guide you through the changes and find the best way to serve you from now on.”