Banking companies are under fire after it was revealed a Norwich suburb will be left with just one bank after the announcement of another closure.
Natwest has revealed plans to shut its Boundary Road branch, claiming it had just two regular personal banking customers.
That leaves Mile Cross with just one bank, the Lloyds in Aylsham Road, as the HSBC in Mile Cross Lane also closes later this month.
Explaining the closure, Natwest said that between 2019 and 2023 over-the-counter business had fallen by more than half, with HSBC claiming its branch had seen in-person transactions fall by a third in the last five years.
But both failed to note Covid lockdowns and restrictions of recent years meaning at times customers were not allowed to visit the banks.
In total, Natwest said their bank had seen more than 230 regular in-person customers in 2022, while HSBC said more than 400 customers used their bank in 10 of the last 12 months.
According to HSBC, 27pc of its regular customers relied on the branch as they had no alternative.
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It also said just 4pc of vulnerable customers use mobile and internet banking while 9pc use telephone banking.
Labour city councillor for Mile Cross, Vaughan Thomas, is seriously concerned about the situation.
He said: "The banks only speak business, they don't care about people.
"They make enough money but the trouble is they keep wanting more.
"This bank should be there for the community, it shouldn't shut just because it's not making enough money, the banks can afford to keep these branches open."
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Mr Thomas said a banking hub would be a good idea for Mile Cross if it was to run out of banks but hoped the situation would not get to that point.
As well as the Lloyds branch, Mile Cross folk can also use Post Office branches in Aylsham Road, Drayton Road and Hellesdon for some banking services.
The closest Natwest bank for customers will be the Gentleman's Walk branch in the city centre when the Boundary Road branch closes on October 31.
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