Branch hours cut due to hot weather

BRITAIN’S biggest building society slashed its branch opening hours due to the ‘extreme weather’ conditions.

Around 12 of Nationwide’s 630 sites amended their opening hours on Monday and Tuesday to allow for travel disruption.

One in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, closed completely because it did not have air conditioning.

A message on the building society’s website says the closures were ‘for the wellbeing of our members and staff’.

Last month, Nationwide pledged to keep 625 branches in operation until 2024 to assist with the cost of living crisis. It has already closed four branches this year and is set to close another three before 2023.

This is part of a wider exodus of banks from the High Street, as they urge customers to use online services instead. Barclays, for example, will close 103 branches this year, while the NatWest group is closing the doors on 67 sites.

A spokesman for Nationwide says: ‘We updated our branch finder online to let members know of these changes. We apologise for any inconvenience.’

All branches should be open as normal from today.