RBS to shut more branches

[snooky]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...itics-42723096

Part of RBS's Mr Matheson's response to the MP committee on Bank closures ...

Mr Matheson added: "We understand that customers are concerned about the change, that customers find change difficult, and we are committed to helping them through that process, and we have lots of ways of doing that.
"We are both personally committed, as are all of our colleagues, to helping every individual customer."

Comment by MP Pete Wishart ....

(He) told the RBS representatives: "I think what's also disappointing is your defiant response to this, where you are singularly saying you are refusing to reconsider any of these closures which is going down particularly badly in a number of rural areas."

RBS more or less saying "Stuff you and what you want. Although we'll deny it, we're in business to make lotsa money and you don't really matter."

Their attitude to the man/woman in the street really is the pits. Maybe if all their customers treated them the same and just bail out then RBS policy makers could go and stuff themselves instead.

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...itics-42723096

Part of RBS's Mr Matheson's response to the MP committee on Bank closures ...

Mr Matheson added: "We understand that customers are concerned about the change, that customers find change difficult, and we are committed to helping them through that process, and we have lots of ways of doing that.
"We are both personally committed, as are all of our colleagues, to helping every individual customer."

Comment by MP Pete Wishart ....

(He) told the RBS representatives: "I think what's also disappointing is your defiant response to this, where you are singularly saying you are refusing to reconsider any of these closures which is going down particularly badly in a number of rural areas."

RBS more or less saying "Stuff you and what you want. Although we'll deny it, we're in business to make lotsa money and you don't really matter."

Their attitude to the man/woman in the street really is the pits. Maybe if all their customers treated them the same and just bail out then RBS policy makers could go and stuff themselves instead.

I doubt that RBS would deny they are in business to make money, they are a bank afterall!!

If branches are losing money, then i dont see the problem with closing them. We moan when RBS make losses, this is them trying to reverse that.

Also, every other bank is doing similarly.

If there is such a public good angle, the government should just nationalise them...

[snooky]

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I doubt that RBS would deny they are in business to make money, they are a bank afterall!!

If branches are losing money, then i dont see the problem with closing them. We moan when RBS make losses, this is them trying to reverse that.

Also, every other bank is doing similarly.

If there is such a public good angle, the government should just nationalise them...

Great idea
Mind you, I thought that RBS was 'nationalised' ... of a sort?

[Jack]

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I doubt that RBS would deny they are in business to make money, they are a bank afterall!!

If branches are losing money, then i dont see the problem with closing them. We moan when RBS make losses, this is them trying to reverse that.

Also, every other bank is doing similarly.

If there is such a public good angle, the government should just nationalise them...

But the RBS are saying it's not about money.

They claim the branches are closing because customers are using other methods to access their accounts.

My question would be 'then why are you closing branches where internet access is poor and access through phone apps even more difficult?'

If what they claim isn't a lie then surely it's the branches in urban areas, where internet and app access is good, that should be thinned out a bit!

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

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Great idea
Mind you, I thought that RBS was 'nationalised' ... of a sort?

😉

[SouthsideHarp_Bhoy]

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But the RBS are saying it's not about money.

They claim the branches are closing because customers are using other methods to access their accounts.

My question would be 'then why are you closing branches where internet access is poor and access through phone apps even more difficult?'

If what they claim isn't a lie then surely it's the branches in urban areas, where internet and app access is good, that should be thinned out a bit!

Well clearly thats pish ( what RBS have said, i mean).

If customers arent using branches (which i believe) then its a cost with no benefit. Any business would be mad to keep open a huge network of branches/shops that were losing them money.

I dont know why they would say its not about the money though. Otherwise, why close them??

[Jack]

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Well clearly thats pish ( what RBS have said, i mean).

If customers arent using branches (which i believe) then its a cost with no benefit. Any business would be mad to keep open a huge network of branches/shops that were losing them money.

I dont know why they would say its not about the money though. Otherwise, why close them??

Because people are using the internet and apps to do their banking!

[snooky]

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Because people are using the internet and apps to do their banking!

Everytime I go into my local (now not so local) branch, it's stowed out the door. Go figure.

[Speedy]

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But the RBS are saying it's not about money.

They claim the branches are closing because customers are using other methods to access their accounts.

My question would be 'then why are you closing branches where internet access is poor and access through phone apps even more difficult?'

If what they claim isn't a lie then surely it's the branches in urban areas, where internet and app access is good, that should be thinned out a bit!

Have they actually said it's not about the money? They may not have said "it's about the money" but that doesn't mean it isn't, it almost goes without saying.

There undoubtedly will be a change in customer behaviour but there is a bit more to it than that imo, they'll be closing branches because the people using branches either don't need to and/or they are using them for things that don't generate any money.

Regarding the urban/rural point, they're closing both - quite a few branches in Edinburgh have been closed over the last 5 years or so.

[Jack]

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Have they actually said it's not about the money? They may not have said "it's about the money" but that doesn't mean it isn't, it almost goes without saying.

There undoubtedly will be a change in customer behaviour but there is a bit more to it than that imo, they'll be closing branches because the people using branches either don't need to and/or they are using them for things that don't generate any money.

Regarding the urban/rural point, they're closing both - quite a few branches in Edinburgh have been closed over the last 5 years or so.

"Committee chairman Pete Wishart told the meeting that he had not experienced such an overwhelming negative response to a single issue in his 17 years as an SNP MP.

He told the RBS representatives: "I think what's also disappointing is your defiant response to this, where you are singularly saying you are refusing to reconsider any of these closures which is going down particularly badly in a number of rural areas."

However Jane Howard, managing director of personal banking, and Les Matheson, chief executive of personal and business banking, told the committee that the closures would save the bank £9.5m annually.

*****But they insisted the decision had not been taken to save money. ******"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42723096

[Hibrandenburg]

If your local bank closes, close your account and open another in a different nearby bank, vote with your feet.

[Speedy]

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"Committee chairman Pete Wishart told the meeting that he had not experienced such an overwhelming negative response to a single issue in his 17 years as an SNP MP.

He told the RBS representatives: "I think what's also disappointing is your defiant response to this, where you are singularly saying you are refusing to reconsider any of these closures which is going down particularly badly in a number of rural areas."

However Jane Howard, managing director of personal banking, and Les Matheson, chief executive of personal and business banking, told the committee that the closures would save the bank £9.5m annually.

*****But they insisted the decision had not been taken to save money. ******"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-42723096

Surprised at that. It clearly is about saving money.

[johnbc70]

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If your local bank closes, close your account and open another in a different nearby bank, vote with your feet.

Research shows your more likely to change your partner than your bank account.

[WeeRussell]

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Research shows your more likely to change your partner than your bank account.

Especially if your partner was to move outwith walking distance to her.

[heretoday]

I dunno. We bail them out and this is how they treat us.

[CropleyWasGod]

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I dunno. We bail them out and this is how they treat us.

This is the kind of post we miss Andy74 for

[bigwheel]

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This is the kind of post we miss Andy74 for

Where is A74??

[JeMeSouviens]

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Where is A74??

Carlisle?

[CropleyWasGod]

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Where is A74??

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Carlisle?

Under 6 feet of snow, apparently.

[bigwheel]

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Under 6 feet of snow, apparently.

Humour on . net. Well I never

[ronaldo7]

Compassion from Kevin McKenna, well I never.

https://t.co/4XcLen4u10

[snooky]

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Compassion from Kevin McKenna, well I never.

https://t.co/4XcLen4u10

Bankers are overtaking lawyers in the Skuzball Championship League.

[jonty]

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Because people are using the internet and apps to do their banking!

So, random thought.
Its not about the money (which it obviously is, albeit 'only' £10 million) so why not:

• Staff the branches with RBS staff who know about the apps.
• provide coffee and free wifi for customers
• Staff can educate customers on how to use the apps
• provide private cubicle/office space for transactions which require more than just the 'apps'
• Deposits can be made via those funky machines that take cheques/cash

By removing some of the banking functions (and staff) there is less annual cost to offset any incurred costs.
All at the risk of being accused of putting local coffee shops out of business.


OK, so its not a real solution (if it was im sure its already been thought of and dismissed) but you'd think there would be some wacky solution.

[snooky]

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So, random thought.
Its not about the money (which it obviously is, albeit 'only' £10 million) so why not:

• Staff the branches with RBS staff who know about the apps.
• provide coffee and free wifi for customers
• Staff can educate customers on how to use the apps
• provide private cubicle/office space for transactions which require more than just the 'apps'
• Deposits can be made via those funky machines that take cheques/cash

By removing some of the banking functions (and staff) there is less annual cost to offset any incurred costs.
All at the risk of being accused of putting local coffee shops out of business.


OK, so its not a real solution (if it was im sure its already been thought of and dismissed) but you'd think there would be some wacky solution.

You should get the top job at RBS.... but you won't because you have far too much common sense and intelligence.

[Scouse Hibee]

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Research shows your more likely to change your partner than your bank account.

Depends if your partner is still accepting deposits or insists on withdrawals only.

[snooky]

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Depends if your partner is still accepting deposits or insists on withdrawals only.

Alas, I'm losing interest every year I get older.

[IWasThere2016]

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So, random thought.
Its not about the money (which it obviously is, albeit 'only' £10 million) so why not:

• Staff the branches with RBS staff who know about the apps.
• provide coffee and free wifi for customers
• Staff can educate customers on how to use the apps
• provide private cubicle/office space for transactions which require more than just the 'apps'
• Deposits can be made via those funky machines that take cheques/cash

By removing some of the banking functions (and staff) there is less annual cost to offset any incurred costs.
All at the risk of being accused of putting local coffee shops out of business.

OK, so its not a real solution (if it was im sure its already been thought of and dismissed) but you'd think there would be some wacky solution.

Why can't banks share premises - so your idea would work in one place and several banks offering the same service.. or site the bank(s) inside a supermarket to dilute the costs further?

I agree it is clearly about cost...

[Just Jimmy]

Like the did with smaller post office branches. Just stick a small customer service counter in a larger central place. Supermarket is a decent shout. Have a pay in machine and an ATM and one person to give advice on customer service issues.

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[Just Alf]

Agreed, the Post office were obliged to provide some sort of replacement as part of their licence... Same as they (and Openreach with phone/broadband) have to give a universal delivery service even in places that are uneconomical to serve.

The banks should have sort of similar obligations


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[jonty]

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Why can't banks share premises - so your idea would work in one place and several banks offering the same service.. or site the bank(s) inside a supermarket to dilute the costs further?

I agree it is clearly about cost...

Smaller towns where the branches are closing would be unlikely to have available footprint in a supermarket (or confidential/quiet areas)
Theres nothing to stop an independent opening an area for banking but i doubt banks would be keen on sharing this co-op area.

But then, I don't know much about banking