Forum Topic

NatWest Chiswick Branch

I’ve just received a letter informing me that this branch is closing on 20th February 2024.

Georgina Flint ● 545d34 Comments

I can believe that some people who deal with lots of coins (newsagents perhaps) might have cause to visit banks in person fairly frequently.Earlier this week when I was in the bank there was someone putting in over £500 worth of coinage into the coin counter machine.

Andrew Jones ● 530d

Whilst personally not supporting the closure of branches,  I’m interested to know why a computer literate person like you still uses the branch three days a week instead of banking online?

Stewart Jones ● 530d

I've actually just had a personal phone call from NatWest about the Chiswick closure, presumably because I'm over 70 and deemed incompetent?  The soothing voice told me about helplines, alternative inconvenient branches, offered to register if I had special problems or bereavements etc or problems using online banking.  I'm actually extremely computer literate (having taught IT) and as yet have no disabilities.This is the fifth branch of NatWest that I've had closed from under me and they are said to be basing this closure on usage figures collected in previous years (2019-21?) partly the time of lockdown.My husband and I both use the branch three days a week, so presumably we are already taking them over the 2 regular customers a week - unless as somebody else said a regular customer has to go in as often as a stalker.  There is always a queue for the till, usually a queue for the help desk and often a queue for the ATM.  Earlier in the year they were measuring up in the branch for a refurbishment so clearly this is a sudden decision.

CE Combes ● 530d

Make that £100-billion.

Roger Talbot ● 537d

Most of the High Street banks wouldn't be around at all if the bastards hadn't been bailed out with about £10-billion of taxpayers money in the noughties.

Roger Talbot ● 537d

Natwest, like all banks do as they please with little concern for their customers.They close when it suits them and cancel you when your opinions differ from theirs. Thankfully Mr Farage is putting a stop to that nonsense.

Denis I. Fox ● 537d

The FCA can and does reject plans by banks to close branches and there would seem to me on the face of it a good case for keeping one or both of these branches open.Ruth Cadbury is on the case and she might be able to clarify the point about Lloyds and NatWest being aware of each other's plans. My guess would be that they weren't. As the figures being used by NatWest are clearly bogus then there would be a strong argument that they should be made to remain open.

Mark Evans ● 537d

As I understand it a bank has to submit a report to the regulator when it wishes to close a branch showing that the impact will be minimal. I don't know if the regulator has the power to reject the report and it maybe that it just has to accept what the bank says. However, NatWest does itself significant reputational damage by using data in this way. They have defined a regular customer as one making a number of visits that they would only do if they were stalking a member of staff.

Francis Rowe ● 538d

Had to go up there just now - they were more than helpful - they are appalled at what is going on - as I am . Said only two people use their bank walking in … what lies. I was in there for 10 minutes and at least ten people needed help at that time…

Helen Bamberger ● 540d

The last time I went in, there was a sweet elderly lady putting cash into her purse. She kept dropping it in confusion so I helped her put it away safely. She didn’t want to use the ATM as she didn’t trust them she said. She preferred to go into the branch as the staff always helped her. The money was for her grandchildren. What would happen if she used a different banks ATM and dropped it in the street? Some thieving bastard would nick it probably.

Georgina Flint ● 541d

Yes Georgina - this is so so unacceptable- the people who have worked there for 20 years - been loyal and have been helpful and kind - now we all have to travel to look after our monies and most certainly do not to go on line -  I had 5 calls yesterday saying ‘this is the fraud dept. Press 1 to continue - obviously a scam … disgusting.

Helen Bamberger ● 541d

Spot on Helen. I also feel very sorry for the staff. A couple of whom have given wonderful service for over 20yrs in that branch.

Georgina Flint ● 542d

I am so angry - we want our banks to look after us as they are supposed to as they are holders of OUR monies - not theirs - no longer… closing down our local branches makes us having to travel to far away branches which could also close in the near future-  just angry .

Helen Bamberger ● 542d

I used the phrase 'certain criteria' as the Bank doesn't publish its requirements (as far as I could see) to take you on as a customer. From reading the website I form the impression that someone who would  automatically qualify for an account at one of the main 'high street banks' might not be accepted by Handelsbank.

Andrew Jones ● 542d

Certain criteria ? Life is not fair.

David Harmes ● 543d

Handelsbanken is at 2 Chiswick High Road. Not sure if that is in ‘Chiswick’ or not. Also, not sure it is easy to open an account unless you satisfy various criteria. But technically it’s a bank as well.

Andrew Jones ● 543d

Oh I forgot to mention Metrobank, so that’s three for the time being.

Adam ONeill ● 543d

Terrible news, I feel so sorry for the staff who have kept the branch running and who have given their all to make banking at NatWest Chiswick a pleasant experience over the years. The method for calculating ‘regular users’ is pathetic and needs to be changed through tougher regulation. I suspect that if you used another branch or cash machine at any time in the last 12 months then they do not consider you to be a ‘regular customer’ at Chiswick branch.  As much as we love Chiswick we can’t be expected never to venture outside of W4.Sadly I think we too will need a banking hub in Chiswick in the not too distant future.  Only Nationwide and HSBC left on Chiswick High Road now.  Had better start the campaign now and look for a premises.

Adam ONeill ● 544d

I've never been in the metro bank so don't know Jim. Mind you, if they have, I imagine you would need to be a customer of Metro bank to be able to get your loose coppers and silver changed up into paper (well polymer I suppose, and there's precious little copper or silver these days, but you know what I mean!)

Andrew Jones ● 544d

A good point Andrew.It's amazing what I find on the pavements!I believe the Metro Bank have a coin machine too. 100% ?

Jim Lawes ● 544d

A good thing about NatWest in CHR was (well still is, at the moment) that they have a machine that you can put all your loose change in, and get a credit slip for the value of the accepted coins that you can put into your NatWest account (at the counter).Obviously no use to non NatWest account holders, but you get 100% of your money changed, rather than the 90%(?) you get from machines like the one in Sainsbury's.

Andrew Jones ● 544d

You can also pay money into your account at the post office.

Janice Evans ● 544d

Or the building society, Nationwide.

Janice Evans ● 544d

I'm pretty sure that the Metro Bank on the  High Road is useful to traders with troughs of cash, Jim.

Roger Talbot ● 544d

The branch always seemed quite busy to me so the claim that it just had two regular customers is transparently false. My understanding that the bank has to produce this report as a statutory requirement so there may be an opportunity if you are a customer to appeal to the regulatory on the basis that incorrect data has been used to close the Chiswick branch. It may be that NatWest would not be that bothered to reconsider as they probably didn't know that Lloyds was about to close at the same time.

Mark Evans ● 544d

Where do local local traders have go to pay in their sacks of coins.?PS: Sorry to hear about David's friend.I starting my working life in a Bank too (with a mere 3 A levels). It was generally repetitive and boring. Hatton Garden was a challenge ... especially with those undigestible signatures!

Jim Lawes ● 545d

oh dear ,sorry to hear that. All the best anyway Georgina

David Harmes ● 545d

I’m afraid not David. I haven’t give up hope yet 🙏

Georgina Flint ● 545d

Any Joy with your foster cat Georgina?

David Harmes ● 545d

You didn’t at all David. It’s nice to remember our departed friends 🥰

Georgina Flint ● 545d

Sorry Georgina ,I have hijacked , yes Philippa in my head I am 17 again thinking of Dave he was such a good bloke.https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/911-terror-83rd-floor-remembering-21495476 Here he is,handsome fella  https://www.londonremembers.com/subjects/david-alan-james-rathkey  I shall leave it here.Than kyou.

David Harmes ● 545d

http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=conlloyds001.htmThere's an article on the front page about the Halifax having just closed and the Lloyds on CHR closing in February next year.It's getting harder and harder to find a bank to speak to anybody in.  Some banking business is is just a lot easier than other business.Acton has a new banking hub run by several banks together - but the trouble is we all want convenient ones and the need to go to the bank is a very good reason to go to a high street.  Much more necessary than a coffee but maybe not as enjoyable!David  Your friend was exceptionally unlucky getting caught up in two different conflicts - and so far apart in time and in the world.

Philippa Bond ● 545d

"Our roots are our branches". Those were the days !

Richard Greenhough ● 545d

When I started work it was in Barclays Bank International in Northumberland ave Trafalgar square ,to think what it was like then to life now re jobs. On a saturday in the daily mirror all the big banks screaming out for half thick/half intelligent 16 year olds like me with 4 gcse's or o levelsI went for all 5 and got offered all of them, bank clerk ,life was so different ,all those jobs gone. I would now have been a chicken in a call center cage. Should have stayed but got boredOur branch was actually hit by an IRA Bomb me and my mate  dived under a desk as the front went in crazy times.Sadly terrorists got him in the end Dave Rathkey died 9/11 working for Cantor Fitzgerald.

David Harmes ● 545d