The Neath NatWest branch is known to be a hub for local banking services and is sometimes used for events like the NatWest Ospreys Cup semi-final draw.
Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, whose office is 500 feet from the NatWest Neath branch in the town centre, has expressed her “deep disappointment” in the closure decision.
Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymru Member of Senedd for South Wales West, said: “I have today written to NatWest to express my concern at the impact of their decision to close the Neath branch, and ask them to rethink their decision.
“This is the latest in the ongoing trend of high-street banks closing their physical premises, cutting many individuals and businesses off from in-person banking services.
“High Street Banks are quick to advertise themselves as the heart of community, and happy to profit from that, but are quick to forget the responsibility that should lie with that position. I think it’s a scandal that banks which make huge profits are not obliged to provide services to the communities that have been their faithful customers for decades.
“The gap left behind by these high street banks are more than just the empty shop fronts. Ensuring that we retain the ability to transact with cash in our communities is a matter of fairness and inclusion, and it will be a blow to local businesses in Neath who use NatWest and are trying so hard to keep the town centre vibrant and flourishing and to the customers who want and need local in-person banking services.”
Barclays closed and now an empty building, and soon NatWest will close ….. these banks with enormous profits should have a duty to provide open branches, not long ago NatWest & Barclays also closed their Enterprise Zone branches … maybe the days of huge stone fronted buildings are gone … but they need a branch with real people.