The impending closure of the NatWest branch in Bakewell, the last remaining bank in the Peak District, has stirred anger and anxiety among residents. Scheduled to close early in 2024, this decision leaves the community grappling with the loss of a crucial financial service hub. The local branch, frequently bustling with activity, particularly on Fridays at midday, serves a mix of elderly individuals, business owners, and customers seeking assistance. As two staff members diligently attend to a steady stream of patrons, the closure announcement has prompted widespread concern about the future accessibility of banking services.
The relocation burden is exacerbated by the distance to the nearest bank branches. Matlock, an almost 20-minute drive from Bakewell, offers the closest banking facilities, while the nearest NatWest branch will be in Chesterfield, nearly half an hour away. The closure reflects a broader trend observed across the UK, where the number of bank and building society branches fell by approximately 34% between 2012 and 2021.
Derbyshire Dales, home to one of the oldest populations in the UK with over 35% of residents aged 60 or above, faces unique challenges following the closure. Local MP Sarah Dines highlighted that dozens of constituents regularly use the Bakewell branch. However, NatWest has stated that staff regularly serve only six customers per week and that counter transactions for personal customers decreased by 55% since 2019.
NatWest emphasizes its commitment to supporting vulnerable and elderly customers before the closure. The bank stated:
"We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them." – NatWest
Despite these assurances, many residents express skepticism about the proposed alternatives. Local post office branches are being suggested as substitutes for banking services, but there is no guarantee they will remain operational in the long term.
Steve Flitter, leader of Derbyshire Dales district council, voiced concerns about rural residents feeling abandoned:
"Rural residents were feeling overlooked and isolated." – Steve Flitter
Lida Ellsworth, a 75-year-old associate priest at All Saints Curbar, described the emotional impact on the community:
"People are devastated. A lot of elderly people depend on this bank – they depend on the fact that they’re known and they know the staff." – Lida Ellsworth
For many residents like Darren Marsden, a butcher at Critchlow’s farm shop, the branch's closure signifies more than just the loss of a banking service:
"It’s going to be a massive loss for the community – it’s part of Bakewell." – Darren Marsden
This sentiment resonates deeply with customers unfamiliar with modern banking methods. An unnamed woman expressed her predicament:
"It’s going to be awful. I don’t have a bank card, I’ve never had one, so I don’t know what I’m going to do." – an unnamed woman
Local Conservative MP Sarah Dines criticized NatWest's decision, pointing out:
"There’s no consideration if you are the last bank, and if there’s a high level of elderly people." – Sarah Dines
Dines further highlighted the challenges faced by residents:
"A lot of people are not on the internet and wouldn’t have the facilities to do that, and also many people don’t drive. This entire area is bankless now, and when other branches closed they said: ‘Well you’ve always got Bakewell’ – and now look what they’re doing." – Sarah Dines
Kerry Booth, chief executive of the Rural Services Network, emphasized the broader implications for rural communities:
"For rural high streets, when that last bank goes, it has a much wider impact than people losing the ability to come and get cash out or use banking services." – Kerry Booth