Natwest closes high street branch

Natwest said it had made the “difficult decision” to shut the branch on Station Road on Tuesday.

Bosses claimed the rise in online banking had caused the number of customers using its services to significantly fall.

Three members of staff working at the branch have been redeployed in the company.

Ossett councillor Tony Richardson said: “I think it is absolutely disgraceful that Ossett has lost the bank just as the town is starting to move forward again.

“There is lots of activity in the town so to lose the bank facility is not a good sign.

“Natwest customers who want to do in-house banking will now have to travel to Wakefield city centre, which is very disappointing.”

The bank said the number of transactions at the Ossett branch had dropped by 22 per cent since 2011 and around 88 customers used it on a weekly basis.

A Natwest spokesman said: “We wrote to all of our customers who use the branch, as well as displaying posters in the branch, to let them know of the closure.

“We have engaged with all of our customers, businesses and the wider community to make sure they are aware of the alternative ways of accessing their banking.”

There are a number of other banks in the town including Yorkshire Bank on Station Road and Barclays on Bank Street.