Two banks will close but ATMs will stay

SET TO CLOSE . . . Yorkshire Bank in Royton

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YORKSHIRE Bank will retain its cash machines in Royton and Chadderton ­- but both local branches of the bank are still set to close.

The Chronicle has previously reported how the Chadderton and Royton branches of the bank are set to shut their doors next month in line with national plans to reduce its network.

The Royton branch in Market Square is set to close on May 23 and those who are reliant on the Chadderton branch will have to travel more than three miles to Oldham as of May 25.

Jim McMahon, MP for Oldham West and Royton, met with a representative of Yorkshire Bank to discuss the closures of their branches in Royton and Chadderton.

He called on them to reconsider also closing the cash machines.

He said this would leave no banks in Chadderton and only one ATM, which is inside a Post Office and cannot be accessed outside business hours.

Mr McMahon, Labour, said: "I have urged Yorkshire Bank to reconsider its proposal to shut branches in Royton and Chadderton - especially in the case of Chadderton, where the town will be left with no bank whatsoever.

"I have listened to the bank's issue - that people are moving away from traditional forms of banking and towards digital services, and that its bank branch model is not financially sustainable for it.

"However the bottom line is that many people still rely on this vital service as a means of managing their money and helping them to go about their daily business.

"The bank has assured me that they will go away and consider this, as well as reviewing the decision to remove ATMs in Royton and Chadderton.

"It's not just Yorkshire Bank - Lloyds, HSBC and the Co-operative Bank have also recently closed branches in the constituency, decimating this vital service across the area.

"So there's a bigger point to be made here. How is it right for the banking sector to privatise profit and expect us, the people, to nationalise risk?

"At the same time, they close the high street banks that are so important to ordinary people going about their daily lives.

"Instead, we need to be looking at a regional banking model, embedded in our communities, supporting local businesses and treating each and every customer like a human being."

Following the meeting, Yorkshire Bank confirmed to Mr McMahon that they are planning to retain the ATMs in both Royton and Chadderton.

They have potential sites in mind but are still finalising agreements.