VB readers will remember that last week we announced NatWest Bank would be closing their Ventnor branch later this year.
We’ve today received a statement from NatWest about the closure, but have also learnt that as well as the Ventnor branch, the Sandown branch is due for closure on the same day, 16 November 2011.
“Not a decision that we take lightly”
A spokesperson from NatWest told VB, “Closing a branch is not a decision that we take lightly. Having reviewed the service at our branch in Ventnor we have taken the difficult decision to close on 16 November as the demand is no longer sufficient to justify the service.
“Our customers can be reassured that they will continue to receive a full banking service at our Shanklin branch, where the staff involved will be redeployed. Customers can, of course, also use all our other branches on the Island as well as having access to our 24-hour telephone and online banking facilities.”
“Sandown will be closing on the same day”
Following the statement, we asked whether any other branches on the Island were due for closure.
A spokesperson from NatWest told us, “Yes, unfortunately we have also announced that our branch in Sandown will be closing on the same day for the same reasons outlined above. There are no other closure plans for the Isle of Wight and whilst realising that news of two closures will not be what people want to hear, we wanted to be open and announce all our plans at the same time.”
