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PUBLIC anger about the reduction in bank opening hours has not abated over recent weeks in Montgomeryshire, with another packed protest taking place outside a branch of Natwest.
Like several others in the area, the Montgomery branch of the bank has seen its opening hours reduced, much to the inconvenience of locals, says County Councillor Stephen Hayes.
“Natwest seem to think all they will lose is a few cheque transactions,” writes the Montgomery councillor.
“In fact they will lose hundreds of thousands of pounds in investment accounts, business accounts, foreign currency and private banking.
“Customers can’t believe that in a major tourist destination the bank was only open one day a week for four hours.
“Throughout this process, Natwest have been arrogant and naive.
"They seem to think that because this is not London, people would just roll over and do nothing.
“They know better now.
“Natwest quoted 30 transactions a day in Montgomery.
"We counted 118. We know our figure is right, because we counted people going in.
“That’s 88 extra transactions every day Natwest is going to lose,” he added. .
Volunteers stationed outside the bank recorded the 118 customers on Thursday, June 17, and 101 customers the next day.
The protest on August 19 was attended by Glyn Davies MP as well as Joyceline Gray, representing Llanidloes Chamber of Trade, and was part of an on-going campaign by Mick Bates AM to bring the plight of local bank users to the attention of bank bosses and the Welsh Assembly.
In recent months Llanfair Caereinion and Llanidloes have also seen customers and politicians take to the streets to register their annoyance at the reduction in opening hours of their local branches.
A spokesman for NatWest said: “Decisions to reduce branch opening hours are never taken lightly, but like any commercial business, we continually review our branch hours to ensure that we offer a service which fits customer demand.”
The bank have pledged to keep the matter under review for six months, should customer usage increase.
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