Strood: Two banks closing is bad for business, says town's MP

Local MP Kelly Tolhurst is concerned another two banks will be closing in Strood

The closure of two banks in a Kent high street will be "really bad for business" in the town, an MP has said.

Kelly Tolhurst, MP for Rochester and Strood, said the closure of NatWest and Lloyds Bank in Strood would hurt those needing an in-person service.

NatWest is set to close on 6 March while Lloyds will shut its doors on 4 April, leaving just Nationwide and the Post Office to serve the town.

High Street banks have said closures were due to customers moving online.

The South East has seen the highest number of banks and building society closures in the UK - with 828 closed or closing since the start of 2015, according to Which?

Speaking to BBC Radio Kent, Ms Tolhurst said a number of banks have already closed.

"So in Strood, to see two more go is really bad for businesses and local people who still very much rely on that face-to-face service," she explained.

'There is nothing'

Local business owner Steve Long, who runs Strood Community Shop, said he had already switched banks due to previous closures.

Now, he says he "will have to travel further afield" to do his banking "which could take a whole afternoon".

A NatWest spokesperson said many customers were switching to online banking but they understood and recognised that "digital solutions are not right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no one is left behind".

They added that they take took their responsibility seriously to support those who had challenges moving online "so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them".

A Lloyds Bank spokesperson said customers had chosen to bank online and as a result visits to its Strood branch had fallen over recent years.

"When the branch closes in April, customers can continue to bank with us online, over the phone, in person at the Chatham branch, or the local Post Office on North Street," they added.

Meanwhile, Deborah Bakare, who runs Akinola Foods, said many years ago there was a lot of shops in Strood but "now, it's closing down, there is nothing".

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