Are the days of High Street banks numbered?

THE Government needs to put a stop to bank branch closures in rural areas before it’s too late. I am the vice chairman of a local over55s group with more than 100 members. We play bingo, have guest speakers and go on coach outings, which all involve cash transactions. We have a healthy balance and the treasurer deposits coins and cheques at the bank regularly. But Barclays is closing this branch and the nearest is a 20-mile round trip. The local post office refuses to deal with large amounts of coins. There isn’t even the option of moving our account as the only other local bank branch, HSBC, is also being closed. What irritates me the most is that the smug banks are happy to take our money, but don’t give much back. It’s a poor excuse to say an increasing number of customers bank online. Not everyone has a smartphone or access to the internet for online banking. It’s pure ageism. Sadly, greed and profitability outstrip good old customer service.

KARL SHERIDAN, Holme-on-Spalding-Moor, E. Yorks. AS A small business owner, I’m frustrated by the lack of customer support from the banks. What really annoys me is the expensive peak-time adverts telling us about their ‘wonderful’ services. Not only is this a fairy tale, but that money would be better used to keep branches open and improve the service banks are supposed to provide.

MARK WESTLAKE, Kingsbridge, Devon. BANKS closing at 3pm is not new. My first banking job was with Midland Bank (now HSBC) in the 1960s when all banks closed their doors at 3pm. After that, staff were busy balancing the day’s business manually in ledgers and preparing cheques to be sent through clearing.

Mrs VIV SMITH, Sheffield. JENNI MURRAY puts a powerful argument in favour of retaining the coin of the realm (Femail). The fad for online banking has wrought havoc for High Street shoppers. The banks have reduced the availability of cash machines in towns and cities. As far as I’m concerned, there is no satisfactory substitute for cash.

DAVID HARVEY, Chippenham, Wilts. I DISAGREE cash is not readily available. I can get cashback at the supermaket or post office. But I agree with Jenni Murray that we must fight the Big Brother banks destroying our way of life.

Mrs JOAN B. BAXTER, Camberley, Berks.