Communities cut off as banks disappear from high streets

Dorset has lost a "concerning amount" of High Street banks in the past few years, sparking fears that the elderly, vulnerable and small businesses are effectively being "cut off" from face-to-face banking.

Banks have said they are closing branches due to a lack of footfall and high costs which means it is no longer worth keeping many branches open.

They say more and more people are turning to online banking rather than using physical branches, which is causing the closures. 

But residents say the decision to close bank branches is "very inconvenient".

In Southbourne, the Post Office and the Nationwide Building Society are the only two places still open for in-person financial transactions.

READ MORE: Another Dorset bank will close its doors for good in 2022

Resident Ralph Greene, 77 from Southbourne has been "forced" to travel to visit his nearest bank after the Southbourne NatWest branch closed in March 2022. 

Ralph said: "After NatWest closed it's been a complete pain for me as now I am forced to travel whereas before I could walk to my bank. It is very inconvenient for someone of my age and because all the banks are closing it means there are always huge queues in the few that are still open. 

"I have waited over 20 minutes in a queue before just to ask someone a question."

NatWest also closed its Wimborne branch in April 2022 alongside 57 other branches in England and Wales this year. 

Nationwide Southbourne (Image: Evie Coffey, Newsquest)

Ellie, 24, an eyelash technician said: "It has become a bit of a bank desert over the past few years, I understand most people do all their banking online now but people like me with my own business need to use the bank a lot.

"I also feel bad for all the old people who have been cut off, so many of them don't have a clue how to use online banking and still use cheques to send their money." 

"My nearest Lloyds branch is in Christchurch which is luckily not too far by car."

READ MORE: Lloyds Banking Group to shut 66 more branches

Alice Boyd, 59 from Christchurch said: "My main account is with Halifax but I've been using my Lloyds over the last year since after the Halifax in Christchurch closed.

"I would have to go into Bournemouth town centre and it's quite a way to go when you don't drive.

"I think people should have a right to opt-out of internet banking. I spent so much time trying to help my mum with her accounts, it’s ridiculous when the banks tell the elderly to do things online like scanning documents and things online when it's difficult enough to help them to log on to their account."