Local campaigners County Councillor, Joy Dennis and Hassocks Parish Councillor, Alex Simmons joined Arundel & South Downs MP Andrew Griffith at a meeting with Nationwide executives on Thursday to challenge the rationale of the forthcoming closures of the Hurstpierpoint and Hassocks branches.
They reminded Nationwide of its oft repeated ‘Branch Promise’ not to close any branches and questioned both the reasoning and the timing of their decision which Andrew Griffith said would “rob the community of these facilities”.
Nationwide stated that they are wedded to their plans to close the two branches on the 29th April claiming that the two branches are unviable owing to a decline in over-the-counter transactions. They also claimed that digital banking and customers having to travel to Burgess Hill or Haywards Heath are options supported by their members in feedback received.
Cllr Alex Simmons raised concerns for the vulnerable members of the community who rely on banking in-person in their local village branch. Nationwide advised that they are ‘still working through’ their vulnerable customer lists but will ensure everyone has the support they need to manage their banking. The councillors also challenged Nationwide on their lack of community engagement and poor consultation process whereby it appears Nationwide has failed to write to all of those with an account at the Branches.
The trio also pressed the management team on the timing of their decision insisting that they should wait until the pandemic is properly over.
Unless Nationwide changes its course, the councillors and Member of Parliament stated following the meeting that they will be raising the closure with Nationwide’s Board of Directors, the Advertising Standards Authority and banking regulators.
