Reading West and Mid Berkshire is one of 30 areas across the UK without any bank branches, new research has revealed, as councillors call for more banking hubs in the area.
Across the UK, there are 30 parliamentary constituencies – representing just over three million people in total – without a bank branch, according to consumer help group Which?.
The research found 6,161 branches have been shut across the UK since 2015, representing 62 per cent of the banking network.
The South East is the region that has lost the most branches, Which? said, with 856 closures.
West Berkshire Councillor Alan Macro, who represents the Theale ward, said he was concerned about the impact on residents with disabilities and traders, who may have no option but to travel long distances to reach appropriate in branch support.
He said: "When I moved to Theale 40 years ago, we had a Barclays, a Nationwide, and a Lloyds. Now, they have all gone. I remember we raised a petition when the last branch went."
Major banks have recently committed to opening more bank hubs - small or mobile facilities that offer banking services across multiple banks - with a target to open 350 hubs by 2029.
But Cllr Macro said previous efforts to bring banking hubs to communities to the west of Reading had not been successful.
He said: "A couple of years ago councillors from Reading Borough Council and I tried to get a banking hub set up in Tilehurst - that was refused. If we can't get one set up in Tilehurst, where the hell can we get one set up?
"There was a suggestion that we try and set up on in Theale library but we didn't think it was worth it - but I think it would be a good thing to try again."
Which? said the impact of bank branch closures on local communities can be devastating, with some of the most vulnerable members of society, such as those living with disabilities or on lower incomes, reliant on branches and either unable or unwilling to make the switch to banking digitally.
Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, said: “Bank branch closures can have severe impacts on local communities, including on those who still want to use cash. New rules to protect free access to cash have been hard won and should make banks think twice about shutting branches without adequate replacements.
“Banking hubs will play a key role in replacing shuttered branches, but their rollout remains far too slow for consumers to feel their benefits.
“The Government must hold banks’ feet to the fire to ensure the commitments they’ve made to set up 350 hubs by 2029 are met – and should be prepared to review the target upwards if necessary.”
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