Campaigning for Access to Banking Services

Banks are closing up and down the country and Adur and Worthing is no exception. Many people rely on access to banks and ATMs for a variety of reasons, whether it's to access more complex services or to help manage weekly budgets.

Despite a promise made barely three years ago, NatWest is to close its branch in East Street, Shoreham (pictured). It is the last bank to desert Shoreham. But thanks to Liberal Democrat pressure the bank will be replaced by a “banking hub”, where customers from many banks can receive face-to-face banking and cash services. We originally wrote to NatWest’s chief executive about our concerns for the future of the bank in April 2020. His office replied: “… we have no reason at the moment to contemplate closure”. But then there was an uneasy silence.

So, we wrote again in November last year and asked: “In the event the bank looks to close, can you give an assurance that, unlike Barclays a few weeks ago in Southwick, your bank will liaise closely with LINK, [the body that oversees the provision of bank and cash services], and offer the premises as a banking hub?” There is no news yet where the banking hub will be located, but we will be pressing both NatWest and LINK for it to be in central Shoreham and to have convenient opening hours every working day. Watch Focus on Shoreham and Southwick for more news – and please share this post with others.

Despite this success, many banks in Shoreham and Worthing are threatened with closure. If you are worries about this and would like to join our campaign then get in touch with Ian and the team...