Crackdown on cheques

ROYAL Bank of scotland ( RBs) and NatWest have become the first major banks to stop automatically replacing their customers’ cheque books when they run out.

since March 1, all NatWest and RBs customers must order in advance by phone or in a branch.

All the big high street names have now stopped automatically issuing new customers a cheque book when they sign up for a current account.

RBs and NatWest were one of the last to stop doing so in May, and Nationwide one of the first in 2012.

Anyone who still wants a cheque book must now opt in. Once they have done so, they would normally be sent another automatically when it runs out.

A NatWest spokesman says: ‘Cheque book usage is down 23 pc compared to last year.’