YP Letters: The importance of your bank's local branch

Shut down: HSBCs branch in Guiseley is one of a number of banks to have closed in recent years.

I LISTENED to a very interesting edition of BBC Radio 4’s Money Box recently, which asked the question: ‘do we need high street banks’?

More than half closed over the past 25 years in the UK, with more than 600 of them closing in 2015.

Speakers from small businesses said dealing over the counter in the local bank is essential to them.

Bank closures means having to drive to the next nearest one, which could be a few miles away, finding a car park, carrying heavy amounts of money which could be a five to ten-minute walk to the bank.

Banks in town centres are vital, there closure effects the footfall of other businesses in the area.

Post offices are closing down and the ones that are open only offer a limited range of services.

Critics say there is an increase in telephone and internet banking, but a number of people, particularly the elderly, feel vulnerable to scammers, and would prefer to speak to a human being where they can feel safe and secure.

The Money Box Programe invited representatives from all the main banks to take part and answer questions, they all declined.