Over a third of bank branches closed
Published on 24 September 2019 05:00 AM
Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK, said: “The rate at which banks are closing local branches is a huge concern and a serious blow for the millions of older people who rely on them, particularly those who are not online or confident with mobile banking.
“Many older people face challenges when it comes to managing their money and a rapid move towards online banking in recent years has undoubtedly caused significant problems for many customers, particularly those with visual impairments and dexterity problems. These problems are exacerbated when branch closures coincide with poor public transport locally, substandard internet service and mobile black spots, making both digital and analogue alternatives difficult for customers to access.
“It is frankly unacceptable that so many banks are shutting branches and withdrawing essential services before putting in place alternative solutions to meet the needs of their older customers, particularly those in rural and semi-rural areas which have already been hard-hit by branch closures. Banks must think more strategically about how they can support all of their customers to carry out their essential banking in an accessible and secure way.”