Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns called on management from NatWest bank to reconfirm their commitment to West Wales following announcements of four branch closures due to affect the County over the coming months.

Paul and Angela met with representatives of the bank to discuss the planned branch closures in Cardigan, Narberth, Pembroke and Milford Haven. Details were provided about the rationale behind the decision and the alternative plans that are being put in place to ensure that customers of the four branches are not unduly affected.

The bank provided assurances that job losses would be kept to a minimum and that community banking positions would be created in addition to the provision of a mobile van visiting those towns affected offering a continuation of banking services.

Commenting after the visit Angela Burns said: “I was disappointed to hear about the branch closures in West Wales. These are on top of other branch closures which have taken place over recent years affecting customers in my constituency.

I asked the Natwest Management to provide reassurances that full impact assessments were done but I remain concerned that external factors other than customer numbers, such as broadband connection, transport links and the age demographic were not taken into account when coming to a decision.

“Whilst I accept that banking practices have changed over the last few decades many communities are now without any banking facilities. I would like to see support provided to maintain branches if they are the last one open in a town. I am however pleased to hear that community banking facilities will be provided and mobile branches will be operating in the four towns affected, but I call on the management to provide long term commitment to such arrangements to ensure similar conversations are not taking place again in a couple of years’ time”.

Paul Davies added: “The meeting with Natwest was a good opportunity for me to explain to them the very real impact that will be felt by communities in Pembrokeshire affected by the recent announcement of bank closures in the local area. Whilst I accept that the face of banking has changed somewhat in recent years, these closures will have a detrimental impact on vulnerable and less mobile customers and will also be a real problem for those customers facing little or no broadband provision at all. It’s vital that those customers have access to community banking facilities and I expect Natwest to ensure that those facilities are made available at the very least.”