THE closure of a Burnham-on-Sea bank has been described as ‘hugely concerning’ by a town councillor.

In March, banking giant NatWest announced it would be closing the Burnham branch on October 10 and appointing a community banker after seeing a 26 per cent decline in the number of branch transactions since 2011.

But Cllr John Parkes, of Burnham and Highbridge Town Council, said the bank’s closure will be ‘a sad day for the town’ and that he fears older residents will find it difficult to access online banking services.

“We already have problems in Burnham with accessing broadband and many people are being digitally excluded because they don’t know how to use a computer or the internet,” he said.

“Where are local people to go to access the range of personal financial services you can only receive on a one-on-one level by visiting a local branch?

“It will, regardless of NatWest’s claims that banking has changed, leave a considerable void for some people that can’t for the reasons above be filled.

“In addition, we’ll have yet another vacant business property to be filled, what message is NatWest giving out to potential business looking to move into our towns?”

A spokesman for NatWest said closing the branch was a ‘difficult decision’ but said customers are ‘actively choosing’ to bank in different ways.

“The way people choose to bank with us has changed radically over the last few years,” he said. “Between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by over 400 per cent and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350 per cent.

“Customers in Burnham are actively choosing to bank in different ways, with 53.4 per cent of customers choosing to use our digital banking options.”

The spokesman said the bank is ‘committed’ to helping customers access their services despite the closure and said they hope the new community banker will help fill the gap left by the branch.

The new community banker, Robbi Maggs, will host a support group in Burnham once a week and will help residents learn how to bank online and inform them about new banking services they can access.

Robbi said he is ‘excited’ to develop a strong relationship with customers in the town.

“The impact of technological changes on the way people bank with us has been dramatic but we’re also aware that not everyone is comfortable with these changes,” he said.

“In my role as community banker, 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.”

James Heappey, MP for Burnham, said bank branch closures are ‘never welcome’ and those who cannot or will not use online banking will be hit the hardest by the branch closure.

“The banks will say that the number of people using branches is dropping quickly and that is certainly true,” he said.

“The community banker will be helpful but I will be keen to hear from constituents about what service they are getting and whether they feel they still have the access to banking that they need.

“Most of all however, I continue to encourage people to switch their accounts to the banks that are still in town.”