BANKING in Marlborough is set to become more challenging as NatWest closes and customers face a 25-mile round trip to the nearest Swindon counter.

The store is set to close today, causing three members of staff to be moved elsewhere and one staff member to take voluntary redundancy.

Following the closure of the service, Caroline Gray has been appointed Marlborough’s new Community Banker, and said: “I’m looking forward to hosting regular events at local venues to help educate customers on being financially fit, training them on the different ways to bank in a digital world and how they can protect themselves from fraudsters.” 


She will be available every Friday morning from 10am-12pm in MArlborough Library to help people with their banking needs.

The banking giant announced plans to close 197 stores earlier in the year, with a number of rural branches targeted, including Melksham and Royal Wootton Bassett.

The bank says just 37 customers currently use the Marlborough branch every week as internet banking has soared, with 65 per cent of customers banking online.

Cllr Nick Fogg has described the closure as a sign of the decline in rural life, as customers are forced to switch banks or make long trips to make appointments.

He said: “It is very unfortunate. I use NatWest to bank money raised by one of my charities and often that involve lots of coins, which you can’t do over the internet.

“I understand that internet banking is the way forward and High Street banks are closing but I don’t see why there can’t be a way for banks to work to create a counter where money can be paid in and transactions done for all banks.

“It is very unfortunate, as banks bring people into towns and this is another example of the decline of rural life. Many of these people have often been banking with them all their life and have been very loyal.”

A NatWest spokesman said: “We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable customers and regular branch users. We extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months so we can ensure our customers have time to consider the right banking options for them.”

Three main banks remain in Marlborough, Nationwide, Lloyds TSB and Barclays. HSBC shut its doors in May 2017.