Nationwide announce closure of Kingswood branch - and highlight ‘good transport links’ to other branches

Nationwide has announced it is to close its branch in Kingswood on April 20. It is the latest bank branch to close in the Bristol region, with customers being urged to access their money online or over the phone.

In a statement, Natonwide said 1% of members used the Regent Street branch ‘exclusively and frequently’. The building society also said there were three other branches within a seven-mile radius of the branch with ‘good transport links’.

The move comes despite a pledge by the bank to continue providing any town or city already with branch with one until 2024 - it appears Kingswood, although classed as suburban town, is included in Bristol.

The bank’s statement said: “Branches continue to play an incredibly important role for Nationwide in providing members valued face-to-face service.

“In Bristol (Kingswood) branch, only one per cent of members use the branch exclusively and frequently. We have three other branches within a seven mile radius all with good transport links.

“A significant investment is also being made into Bristol Cabot Circus branch which re-opens on 23 March and is the closest Nationwide branch to Bristol (Kingswood). We will support the small number of vulnerable members who use the branch, helping them to find other ways to access their money via nearby branches, online or over the phone. The Bristol (Kingswood) branch will close on 20 April.”

Already in Kingswood, HSBC has converted its branch in Regent Street to a ‘digital service branch’ which provides a counterless service. HSBC is also closing its branch in Downend on April 25, leaving the place without a bank.

On Nationwide closing its branch, one disabled person contacted BristolWorld. She said: “With no car this is going to be a nightmare for me.” Across the UK, 5,391 bank and building society branches closed their doors between January 2015 and January 2023, working out at 54 a month.