Last bank in Chorlton faces closure after Nat West decides to close its doors

The last bank in Chorlton is set to close and ward councillors of the area are fighting the decision to close after it after anger from residents. 

Chorlton NatWest bank is due to close in May and residents of the area have expressed upset at the decision. 

Chorlton used to be well known for having eight banks in close proximity to each other and now the centre is losing its final bank. 

Councillors Mathew Benham and John Hacking have started a petition on change.org asking NatWest to reconsider the decision to close. 

Jeff Smith, MP for Chorlton, is backing the petition and wants NatWest to reverse its decision.

People rely on branch

The closure of the bank may impact older residents and vulnerable people who rely on their local branch for financial needs. 

The petition has reached a wide range of the Chorlton community with over 1,200 signatures so far. 

Cllr Bentham has spoken to NQ about the NatWest Closure: “If this branch closes it will leave us with no bank at all for our residents, and we’re the biggest district centre outside the city centre, so it’s a busy district centre and serves quite a big population across the south of the city. 

“I think we got a sense from residents that there was real disappointment.” 

Cllr Bentham explained that the rationale in the beginning for setting up the petition was to gain the public’s view of how the people felt about the closure and demonstrate to Nat West how important the bank is to people. 

Cllr Hacking expressed his concern about the closure and the bank’s busy environment, saying: “From my point of view, it’s a well-used bank and everyone I speak to says it’s always busy and it attracts a particular demographic that’s important to us. 

‘Vibrant area needs a bank’

“To have a population of 70,000 people in a vibrant area like Chorlton, in south Manchester, with one bank in it just seems really odd.” 

Both Cllr Bentham and Cllr Hacking have met with NatWest to discuss the branch’s future, with further meetings to take place.

NatWest have agreed to work with the local post office and are looking into other avenues they can explore for Chorlton. 

Cllr Bentham added: “There is still a large group of people that need sort of more personal banking, like businesses, older people, and people with learning disabilities. 

“The advantage of the bank is that there’s actually meeting rooms and private spaces and there isn’t that option in the post office.” 

NatWest said in a statement: “We continue to invest in this for the future, with an increase in our investment into branches planned over the next three years. 

“However, how our customers choose to bank with us is changing, and our network and services need to reflect customer demand and ensure we are set up to deliver the best possible support.  

“Through our unique mobile branches, Community Banking Hubs, Post Office partnerships and the largest free-to-use ATM network of any bank, we are committed to providing customers with access to banking in ways that best suit their needs. 

 “We carefully assess where and when we make the difficult decision to close a branch to minimise the impact any change may have on our customers and colleagues.”