THE loss of another bank from a town’s high street has been branded a “crying shame” as customers look to move their accounts elsewhere.

NatWest has announced that it will close its branch on Lowther Street in Whitehaven on March 14, 2023.

It is the second bank to close on the street recently – with HSBC also departing last month.

NatWest say counter transactions in the bank have decreased by 60 per cent over the last three years.

Mike Starkie, mayor of Copeland, said: “It’s really disappointing but it seems like this is the strategy banks are deploying all over the country, not just here.

“More and more people are using online facilities and are not using the branches. There are very few left now.”

Charles Maudling, mayor of Whitehaven and chairman of Whitehaven and District Chamber of Trade, believes that people are being pushed into online banking.

He said: “Sadly it's a very big disappointment for the town but most towns are the same for how many years the banks have tried to push customers to internet banking and this is the end result.

“Now most big stores and supermarkets are pushing self-scan. This puts the staff at risk of losing their jobs. I always refuse and always go to a staffed till. It may take a little longer but I believe if more did this it would help retain staff.”

Brian O’Kane, who represents Whitehaven Central North on Whitehaven Town Council, said: “It’s a crying shame that NatWest has withdrawn from Copeland.

“Branches were closed in all other areas and now the final branch in the main town is being withdrawn without any consultation at all. Justification seems to be based on business within the branch over the period of the pandemic.

“Everybody who has contacted me as a councillor has insinuated that they will leave the NatWest as soon as possible.

“I would like to see the justification as a comparison between Whitehaven and Workington to see which one has more issues to substantiate their argument. 

“This whole decision has come as a complete shock to everyone involved. Personally, I’ve been with them since I was 16 and the only thing I get is a letter.

“It is an absolute disgrace. They should be ashamed of themselves. I think they should be consulting their loyal customers as soon as possible to explain their decision in full.”

Graham Roberts, who represents the Harras ward on Whitehaven Town Council, said: “I think it’s a very serious predicament of the town now.

“I have had a lady on to me, very worried. A lot of people don’t use online banking.

“It’s going to mean another empty building. These empty buildings don’t bode well for the town. It’s very worrying.”

Gerard Richardson MBE, who owns Richardsons of Whitehaven, a wine and coffee merchants on Lowther Street, said: "It’s another blow for Whitehaven but this was at least expected as its part of a pattern of withdrawal by the banks.

“For years they have had customer services staff inside pushing everyone to online services and once they get a critical mass of clients going online, they announce that branch as unsustainable.

“It’s really sad for the staff but also for many of their clients for whom web based banking is difficult to understand and I’m one of those folk.

“The biggest issue for the high street now is that bank buildings are traditionally difficult to re-occupy but hopefully this can be taken up as an office facility in the near future.”

READ MORE: NatWest to close branch on Lowther Street in Whitehaven