Loss of island bank branch reflects wider shift of services online
LIVING on the Isles of Scilly, one is inevitably cut off from many of the facilities taken for granted on the mainland.
The remoteness of the scenic archipelago is one of its greatest attributes, drawing holidaymakers and day-trippers in their droves every year.
But being away from it all necessitates a more resourceful approach to life when it comes to goods and services, requiring the organisation of imports or journeys by boat or plane to mainland Cornwall.
That may become an increasing headache for some, now that the last bank branch on the Isles of Scilly shuts its doors from today. The Barclays branch closed several years ago, and Lloyds has this week followed suit. Cash withdrawals will still be available to those on the islands, via ATM cashpoints and Post Offices, but actually talking with bank staff now requires a trip to the mainland – although Lloyds says it will trial fortnightly visits from a community banker.
The loss of local bank branches is a situation which has been playing out across the Westcountry and further afield for years.
Travelling from Scilly to a bank in Cornwall is undoubtedly a more costly trip, both in time and money, than that faced by isolated communities on the mainland when residents need to visit a city branch. But it is symptomatic of a gradual change in culture regarding the way we now organise our lives – and, additionally, the way we are now told we must organise our lives.
The fact is that more and more transactions are conducted online – whether ordering a weekly shop, getting a takeaway delivered, banking via an app, or even working from home.
Covid pandemic lockdowns undoubtedly hastened this shift, with families turning to Zoom or social media apps such as WhatsApp to keep in touch, getting their food delivered to their door, and increasingly going online to carry out such tasks as banking or booking travel.
Organisations have also used this mass migration online as a way to cut costs. Customers are increasingly directed to secure what they need via websites and apps, and, as many readers have pointed out in our Letters page over the years, getting to talk to company representatives in person has become an increasingly frustrating situation. Even if a phone number is available, one can often be kept waiting and encouraged to seek the answers via a website.
Many find it more convenient to conduct their affairs at the click of a button. But for those who prefer not to use the internet, aspects of life will undoubtedly become harder and harder to navigate.
It is understandable that companies and public organisations increasingly favour an online approach, not just mirroring but also accelerating changing customer habits. Lloyds bank said that on Scilly only 33 customers used the branch at least once a month last year and 71% used online banking.
From high street shops to business branches, the ‘use it or lose it’ warning has never been so true.