NatWest branches in Ramsgate, Paddock Wood and Rainham will be closed later this year. The bank states only few people are using the branches on a regular basis - something locals are disputing.
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00:00 Another day, another bank disappearing from Reynham's High Street.
00:04 The NatWest branch here is just one of several branches from across Kent that are facing
00:09 closure including in Ramsgate, Dover and Gravesend.
00:13 NatWest say the closures are due to less people banking in person.
00:18 As you can see over my shoulder plenty of people using this NatWest bank branch.
00:23 But NatWest say only two people used it a week in 2023 for personal business.
00:29 But I've seen dozens of people using it throughout today and I'm not the only one.
00:34 To me NatWest are using completely misleading information to justify this closure.
00:40 They claim that two people a week use this bank.
00:43 I've been here a few minutes and I've seen more than two people just in that few minutes.
00:48 So their data that they're using to justify this is completely, completely wrong.
00:53 Here we go, another closure, another stab in your local high street from the big banks
01:01 putting profit before people.
01:03 We spoke to an elderly lady yesterday and she was in tears.
01:07 She'd only just found out she was crying in there because she didn't know how she was
01:12 going to be able to do her banking.
01:14 But not everyone is concerned about the loss of high street banking.
01:17 Do you prefer online banking is easier?
01:20 I do.
01:21 It's more convenient instead of having to travel, just start an eight day, especially
01:27 bank payments and stuff.
01:29 NatWest say more than 700 million transactions happened online, meaning demand for in-person
01:36 banking has dropped.
01:38 But councillors in the area are worried what this means for the elderly who can't deal
01:43 with digital.
01:44 Well I think it's a great shame, particularly for older people.
01:46 I think the majority of younger people, of course, are very versed with online banking
01:52 and maybe that may not be quite so difficult for them.
01:55 But I think that older people who are not used to online banking are going to feel,
02:02 again, more alienated from banking services and so on.
02:07 And that becomes quite important to them as they get older.
02:10 And I think that it's a great shame that they have to do this now.
02:15 NatWest were reproached for comment.
02:17 The Reynham branch will remain open until the end of July.
02:21 And while there may be other branches available in Chatham and Sittingbourne, the future looks
02:26 increasingly uncertain for those who prefer banking in person.
02:31 Oliver Leeds of the Saks reporting for KMTV.