A High Street Bank is not an investment Bank .It is a bank for local businesses and residents to use. It used to be the 5 clearing banks who had branch networks. Branches of all banks have been pared down way too far to a point that some are rendered useless, but also loses that knowledgeable service that was invaluable to businesses and customers when needed. Everything now is dressed up as an app or an online thing but it's far from ideal or satisfactory. There would not be endless stories in the media and consumer reports if it was so perfect.Nor is it a free service. Banks make a lot of money from the funds it holds. Those funds are those of the customer.If you start prioritising shareholders for this type of service then that's the thin end of the wedge. This branch no longer has local competition. So it gained from the loss of other banks closing. The NatWest was forced to make a decision it was not intending to make in Brentford - at least that's what customers were told.For Barclays to suggest the Post Office in South Ealing is ludicrous. It's closed due to technical issues more than it is open and far from ideal to carry out financial transactions.It just shows how small customers and small non digital businesses are deemed so irrelevant. So much for every penny counts.Today, As most days, there's a queue outside in this pouring rain. That really shows the necessity of a local branch bank.This simply throws light on the future of the North Side of the High street, Now that will die. No doubt another done deal is on the cards for the redevelopment of the North Side will be the next bomb about to detonate.
Raymond Havelock ● 1615d