Petition plea over bank hours

Campaigners fighting to stop NatWest from reducing its opening hours in three Mid Wales towns have called on people to sign a petition.

NatWest is cutting its opening hours at three small branches, but the decision has been met with opposition by campaigners who fear branches will close as customers go elsewhere.

From June 21 the bank will only open between 10am and 2pm in Llanfair Caereinion on a Tuesday and Friday, Montgomery on a Wednesday and Llanidloes on a Monday and Thursday.

The banking group said the move in the towns was a response to falling customer demand.

But residents have launched a petition objecting to it and hundreds have already signed it.

NatWest said the decision had not been taken lightly and there were ATMs at its branches in Llanidloes and Llanfair Caereinion.

Mick Bates, AM for Montgomeryshire, has now urged people to get behind the fight.

He said: "I am deeply concerned by the drastic cuts that have been proposed to the service hours of NatWest in Llanfair Caereinion, Llanidloes and Montgomery.

"Many local residents are worried about the effect this will have on these towns. The service cuts will force people to use banking facilities elsewhere, taking custom out of these towns and could lead to the eventual closure of these branches.

"Customers are being encouraged to use online facilities, but a reliable and secure internet connection is simply not available in many areas.

A spokeswoman for NatWest said the decision "had not been taken lightly".

To sign the petition visit www.montgomery.libdems.org/petitions/3