I do nearly all banking online but I do occasionally need to go to the bank.
Almost every time I go, they mention i could do x, y or z on the app or online. Except I've been using online banking for years, so I only go to the bank for things I can't do online. Like pay in, or withdraw cash, or a cheque that exceeds the app limit, or that the app is unable to read. A friend recently wanted to withdraw quite a large amount of cash from the bank. The cashier told them that next time, they could use the app to order up to £1k to be dispensed from a certain cashpoint. I can't think many people would want to use a cashpoint in view of other passers-by, to withdraw such a large amount.
Today I went to the bank to pay in a cheque. It was from the solicitors that dealt with a deceased relatives estate.( I've no idea why they couldn't have transfered the amount by bacs but thats not entirely relevant) The bank was closed. Of course.
There was a notice on the door saying the branch is closing and staff at nearby branches will be happy to help. (They probably won't, they will also ask if I've got the app and tell me to do stuff online!
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All their wafty, cosy adverts make it seem as if there is always someone around to have a chat, talk you through options, help you to sort stuff out when in RL there is usually 2 people in the bank, 1 to deal with money and the other to helpfully tell you you could have done whatever it is online!!
At least 2 other banks in the town have closed and I know its an issue in lots of towns. Which made me wonder if there could be a high street premises that banks could share...? One bank I use (which is at the moment is still operative) always has queues and is usually busy, the one I wanted to use today is admittedly never busy when I go in. So sort of get that it might not be profitable to be open 5 days a week for not many customers.....but some people still need to use actual banks!
I know the post office used to deal with cheques from high Street banks (not sure if it still does) but there are always queues in the PO for actual post office business.
Would it be feasible to have a generic bank that could accept or give out cash and accept cheques whether you were a customer of santander, barclays nastiest, Halifax etc? Or is that a stupid and impractical idea?