Morecambe’s branch of NatWest bank to close early next year

Wednesday, 22 November 2023 14:01

The Morecambe branch of NatWest is to close at the end of February 2024, it has been revealed.

Customers have been written to, outlining the reasons why the Morecambe Central branch will shut on February 28.

The bank say in 2022, the branch on Marine Road Central had just six regular users, a decline of 52% since 2019, and 163 regular business users.

Earlier this year, the NatWest Group announced it was to shut at least 143 of its bank branches throughout 2023 and 2024.

In a letter to customers, NatWest say a ‘pop up’ service will be made available following the closure, and that daily banking tasks can be carried out at the Post Office, and at local PayPoint services at shops on Queen Street, Pedder Street and Westminster Road.

Face to face banking can also be carried out at NatWest’s Lancaster branch on Church Street. There are also NatWest branches at Garstang and Kirkby Lonsdale.

In a statement, NatWest said: ‘’Closing a branch is always difficult and not a decision that we ever take lightly.

‘’We look at the likely impact on customers. How often customers use the branch, and the transactions they’re making, as well as their banking preferences, where the nearest branch and nearest cash machines are, if there’s a local Post Office and other banking options available.

‘’With the ease of mobile and online banking fewer people are coming into the bank.

‘’This means we’ve had to make some tough choices about which can stay open.

‘’So, we want to make sure that we keep the branches people are using most.’’

Support Specialists will be making proactive telephone calls to customers over the coming weeks, providing bespoke support and advice to vulnerable customers, and the bank will also be running a face-to-face event in branch for those who may prefer to speak to someone familiar in person.