Yorkshire Bank to close branches in overhaul of retail operation
YORKSHIRE and Clydesdale Banks are to close 28 “unsustainable” branches, including eight in Yorkshire, and invest £45m into their operations as part of plans to reorganise their retail operation.
The banks, part of National Australia Bank (NAB), expect to save £5m by the branch closures.
Over the next nine months, the banks’ network of 320 branches will be “reshaped” as part of a £25m branch investment programme. More than £20m will also be spent on services for customers including the expansion of mobile banking, improvements to internet banking and text alerts.
“Flagship” branches will be created in Aberdeen and Fargate in Sheffield and at still-to-be-secured sites in Edinburgh and Leeds, to go along with the refurbished Glasgow head office and newly refurbished London Piccadilly branch.
The branches earmarked for closure in Yorkshire are in Bingley, Bradford, Goldthorpe, Hull, Leeds Armley, Sheffield Haymarket, Sheffield Moor and Thirsk.
David Thorburn, chief executive Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank, said: “There’s a lot of positive change being driven forward for our customers and there needs to be more as we build a better bank. Here we are making a significant investment to meet the changing needs of customers now and in the future.
“But to deliver what are fundamentally necessary changes, we have to face in to difficult decisions. No branch closure is welcomed by customers or staff, I understand that, which is why we are working to minimise the effects these changes have on them.”
New roles are being created at the banks’ busiest branches and also to staff the new flagship branches. It is anticipated that these roles will be filled by existing branch staff. Arrangements are also being put in place to support displaced branch managers.
