Closure of Cleveleys NatWest Bank

On Friday 24 January it came to light that plans are afoot to close Cleveleys NatWest Bank. It’s actually scheduled to close on 28 April 2025 leaving Blackpool, Lancaster and Preston as the nearest alternatives. NatWest is the last of the ‘proper’ banks in town.

Cleveleys and it’s surrounding area has a higher than average retirement population – many of whom aren’t comfortable with or able to use internet banking. There is also a large catchment of business and charity users who regularly pay in cash and cheques. It being the last bank in a catchment with a large population it also draws many people into the town each day, many of whom go on to visit businesses and food outlets. This trade will disappear.

A lot of work is done by a lot of people to keep Cleveleys vibrant and an attractive town centre for residents of the Fylde Coast and loss of a vital community resource will be a big blow. When all of these facilities are gone it’s too late.

Please sign the petition to keep the NatWest in Cleveleys

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Do you Care for Cleveleys?

Closure of banks and other high street names shows what a thin line we walk between a busy and useful town centre and one that’s like so many others across the UK – struggling to cope, with empty units and few shoppers. It’s why we can’t afford to be complacent and expect Cleveleys to always be popular – like anything successful we have to work at it.

Please join Care for Cleveleys and help. Not only is it productive and making a big difference, it’s also great fun! If you can’t physically help you could help by making a donation. A few pounds each month goes a long way to covering running costs like insurance. Everything we do is covered by fundraising and donations. Find out about donating to Care for Cleveleys here. 

Care for Cleveleys works hard to keep the town a vibrant, attractive place to visit – and this means that footfall is consistently high throughout the year. Retailers and businesses need to help too – Care for Cleveleys can’t do it all on their own. Businesses – don’t just pull out of town because its good for your bottom line, put that ‘social and corporate responsibility’ into action that you’re all so fond of talking about.

Why do we need to keep the NatWest open in Cleveleys?

1. For its banking facilities – all those problems that can’t be resolved easily online. Paying in cash and yes, cheques from time to time.
2. After bereavement – when you have to go into branch to deal with account closure issues. It must happen a lot in Cleveleys – it’s a retirement town!
3. Opening and changing accounts. Especially charity and group accounts with a number of people involved. Ever tried to open or alter a community group bank account? It’s a nightmare of epic proportions.
4. The cash till. Yes you can get cash out in loads of places but the cash till will also go.
5. Spin off benefit to the town – all those people who use the bank and the cash till won’t have a reason to ‘pop into Cleveleys’ so their ancillary spend will disappear with them. 
6. Supporting the community of elderly people who aren’t able to use online banking
7. Can you think of any more reasons?

Closure of Cleveleys NatWest Bank will be a big blow to the town

Tesco has been right at the centre of the town of Cleveleys for as many years as we can all care to remember.

We think that the block which houses Tesco, Boots and the phone shop (formerly the Eating House cafe) was built in 1970. (Does anyone know if that’s correct? If you do please let us know). 

Tesco has occupied that shop unit since the block was built. Originally there was an upstairs to the shop, with electricals and homeware. It was accessed by an escalator where the cigarette kiosk is now.

It’s popular with people who live in the vicinity and shop in the town centre, with both residents and visitors. Since Cleveleys is a retirement area, the store is also very popular with the towns older residents. Many of them haven’t got cars and are unable to do a week’s heavy shopping in an out-of-town supermarket, and instead buy things bit by bit. It’s also central and easy to access.

Reason for the Closure of Cleveleys NatWest Bank

In their factsheet, NatWest cites the reason as being the increasing move to the use of online banking and its app. Apparently use of the branch is declining rapidly – which is hard to believe when you see the queues! They say:

• Comparing October 2019 with October 2024, there were 51% less counter transactions
• In the year from November 2023 to October 2024, 68% of personal customers also used online banking/their app.
• 375 personal customers used it each month on average and 148 business customers – which equals 523 customers per month. That’s 26 customers a day over 20 days in a month – really?

There’s a Factsheet on the NatWest website with details

Save Cleveleys NatWest

Speed is of the essence in these kind of situations. The deed may be done and the die may be cast but at least we can register our displeasure as a town. So we’ve created a petition on behalf of Care for Cleveleys – the voluntary group which does so much to keep this lovely town vibrant and popular. You can find all about just what Care for Cleveleys does on Facebook and on the website www.CleveleysTCG.org.uk. 

What we can actually DO to influence the decision may be limited. But we can certainly make a noise and register our displeasure.

Please sign the petition to keep the NatWest in Cleveleys

That said, the NatWest factsheet does say “Your opinion matters. That’s why we’re getting in touch with our customers and engaging with the local community to talk through our decision. We will update this factsheet with details of who we contacted, a summary of responses and any complaints. You’ll be able to read the results at natwest.com/branchclosures by 14 April 2025.

“Meanwhile, if you’d like to ask us anything or you need extra support, please get in touch with our dedicated Customer Support Specialists on 0131 380 6528 (Relay UK 18001 0131 380 6528, International + 44 131 380 6528)”

There’s one thing for certain, if you do nothing, you’ll get nothing. 

What Next after the Closure?

That’s the million dollar question. Watch this space.

What we’re bothered about is our town and the customers who rely on the bank. That shop unit, the staff who work there and the footfall that it attracts.

It’s clear that the community of Cleveleys want to fight to keep the vibrancy of our high street, and between us we can certainly made a noise.

Care for Cleveleys works hard to make our town an attractive destination that people want to visit, one where they have a great experience and want to come back. It needs all of the retailers, local people and visitors to join in, so that we can resist the decline happening elsewhere. Will you do your bit?

The world is changing. Hefty town centre rents, the burden of business rates, all of the overheads that must be met, all combine to make running premises an expensive occupation. Match that against the convenience of the internet and town centres have a struggle on their hands. A lot of familiar, household names have closed their doors or are currently in trouble. No one can be complacent.