Dear Editor.
I am an elderly resident of Willesden Green and can't walk very far. The National Westminster Bank in Willesden Green is just four minutes from my home but is due to close in February.
The elderly, people with mobility problems and the disabled need an accessible local bank and those are the people who will be most badly impacted by the closure.
The cashiers at the branch know their customerrs well and are aware of those who have mobility problems. They notice when you are frail and invite you to sit down on a chair to wait rather than have you join the queue and stand for a long time.
They even offered to identify me as someone with memory problems.
On one occasion I visited the bank with a builder who had done some work for me and needed a cash payment. The cashier leaned over to me and whispered, 'Are you okay? You are giving him a lot of money.' This shows they know their customers and care about them.
People of my generation don't use the cashpoint outside the bank for fear of being mugged and instead use the cashpoint inside the bank. If we have to use the outside cashpoint we feel insecure and fearful. Somone I know was mugged when withdrawing money at the cashpoint and theft takes place even during daytime.
At the moment I am just about able to do online banking but some people don't have internet access. I am unable to use a mobile phone App which Nat West offer as an alternative. I suspect many other elderly people are in the same situation.
Their statement suggesting that they only had two 'regular customers' in 2022 seems wrong to me judging by the queues I see. How do they define regular? How do they reach the figures they quote - I would like to see the detail and methods in their closure impact assessment.
When National Westminster closes in February and Lloyds a little later there will be just one bank, Barclays, left in Willesden Green. Barclays Bank is not an ethical choice.
National Westminster suggests we go instead to their branches in Kilburn High Road, Golders Green or Swiss Cottage. Unfortunately Willesden Green has no lift for the elderly or disabled so this makes journeys difficult or impossible for some.
They also suggest banking at the Post Office in Willesden. Have they seen the queues that line up outside on the pavement? I am concerned about personal safety if I withdraw money at the post office.
I would like to see National Westminster Bank withdraw the closure notice and hope others will make their voices heard.
Regards,
Willesden Green resident for more than 40 years.
Editor's comment:
After receiving this letter I checked the police crime figures for Willesden Green area. The last available are for November 2023. It shows 21 crimes near the National Westminster bank.
Breakdown
Theft from the person 5, Anti-social Behaviour 3, Shoplifting 3, all other crime 10.
Last year AgeUK published a booklet on the impact of the switch to on-line bank on the elderly. You can read it HERE
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