Bank ‘shows lack of social concern and responsibility’

A BANK’S closure shows a lack of social responsibility and will hit the elderly and disabled hardest, it has been claimed.

It comes after it was announced on Thursday the NatWest on Victoria Square, Aberdare, is to close because the number of transactions over the counter have declined by 31% since 2011.

Last year, the bank nearly halved the opening hours of the branch from 37.5 hours per week to 20.

Ann Clwyd, who has been the Cynon Valley MP for 32 years, said: “I know how my constituents – especially elderly and disabled constituents – rely upon local bank branches.

“In the last year, we have seen HSBC and Lloyd’s close branches and I know that it has had an adverse effect on my constituents.

“It is, therefore, unacceptable that NatWest has decided to do this. It shows a lack of social concern and responsibility as many residents in the Valleys are not familiar with telephone and internet banking.

“NatWest should make more effort to ensure that no-one is left behind in the Valley.”

The branch is one of eight NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland branches across Wales to close, with 150 across the UK and a total loss of 470 jobs.

After the closure, the closest NatWest for customers in Aberdare will be the Heads of the Valley branch in Merthyr Tydfil - over seven miles away.

The closures are being blamed on a “dramatic shift” in the way that customers use the bank – with a switch to people banking online or through apps.

The bank said that between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by over 400% and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350%.