Bank branch closures

SIR – Closing accounts is only one way to debank people (Letters, January 31). Shutting branches is far more effective. Our branch is about to close, meaning a long journey will be required to get to the nearest one.

I’m old and deaf, and rely on the boys and girls in the branch to help me maintain independence. Perhaps if all of us affected withdrew our cash on the same day, the overmighty banks might listen. Sue Hood

Ardersier, Nairnshire

SIR – I am forced to take a 30-mile round trip to deal with my nearest Nationwide Building Society. On top of my fuel costs, I will also have to pay for parking – and no doubt soon some sort of low-emissions-zone fee. All for the privilege of paying in cash.

A simple solution would be for banks and building societies to be forced to ensure that banking services are available at all post offices, especially in rural locations. This should be financed by the banking sector. Surely a win-win for customers and rural post offices. Warren Stocks

Aberdeen

SIR – In my town, Barclays, Natwest, Santander, HSBC and Lloyds will be opening a banking hub five days a week from 9am to 5pm, with each bank taking one day. Richard Morris

Lutterworth, Leicestershire

SIR – I am the treasurer of a local charity established to protect and enhance the local common.

Over seven months, I have received eight letters from Barclays warning me of restrictions in place on our account and stating that if it didn’t hear back from me in the next 10 days, it may give notice to close the account. This despite my completing the required forms on two occasions, telephoning three times and being promised the necessary updates had been completed.

Clearly, senior managers at Barclays have issued orders to staff to apply this policy with vigour and little common sense. Alternatively, the administration department is so incompetent that one branch does not know what the other is doing. Tudor Davies

Keston, Kent