daveh wrote:GoSeigen wrote:Some odd things being written on this thread. Last time I looked there were some 8000 bank branches in the UK, in 2012 there were even more, about 13,000. So the idea that the cost of branches is "extortionate" or that customers are unwilling to pay to use a branch simply does not stack up. NIM is recovering so banks will have plenty of income to cover the cost of their branches.
Metro Bank has about 80 branches some 1% of the total -- that doesn't seem crazy to me. Having been recently opened they are probably largely in optimum locations.
GS
I mostly bank online, but for some things at least occasionally I need a branch. Occasionally I need to pay in a cheque, or cash for the small local charity I am treasurer for. Or recently I was given an old English 20quid note by a Polish colleague visiting for a meeting to change, and I needed to take in some documents with ID for an insurance policy that was maturing that needed certifying by a member of the bank. The branch I visited was busy, mostly older people, but some business people get or paying in cash. Clearly some branches are required, but they are disappearing fast, perhaps a banking hub in towns that would cover all the banks where the last bank branch has closed.
Same here. I once needed a Banker's Draft and my bank would only give it to me in person, at my home branch. Another time I wanted to settle a mortgage of (something like) £100k and they demanded I attend my branch in person to make the transfer.