Bank branches in Norfolk and Waveney: How many have closed and where are they?

Data from the consumer group Which? combined with analysis from the EDP shows the region is losing more and more banking facilities every year as more customers take advantage of online and telephone banking.

The data shows 13 NatWest, two Santander, three Lloyds, seven HSBC and six Barclays branches have closed in Norfolk and Waveney since 2015, excluding recently announced closures in locations including Wells and North Walsham.

Combined with the closure of all East Anglian branches of the Norwich and Peterborough Building Society this paints a worrying picture for many customers.

Although there have been around 10 branch closures in Norwich since 1015, there have been many more in regional towns and centres where options for banking are often limited.

Closing branches: How they affect us

Bank and building society branch closures can have a particularly harmful affect on elderly, rural residents, according to Norfolk County Council's communities committee chairman Margaret Dewsbury.

MORE: Bank branches closures are 'speeding up the decline' of our high streetsMrs Dewsbury, who represents Hingham division, said that while the issue of bank closures had not come up at communities committee meetings, she felt the issue was an important one for many people.

She said: 'The aging population in the villages looks to the larger market towns, and those are the ones that are losing the banks.

The NatWest bank branch in North Walsham has also closed. Pictures: David Bale (Image: Archant)

'It can be quite difficult for older people to get into Norwich, and they don't always know where to go when they get there.'

But Barry Hester, mayor of North Walsham, which has lost several branches in recent years, said bank closures could also offer an opportunity for town centre renewal.

He said: 'It's not ideal and you feel for the staff, but most people bank online now anyway, even small businesses which might have to pay in cash have the post office to do that.'

Mr Hester said the town's HSBC, which closed in 2016, had been replaced with a Specsavers, and he hoped another popular shop would fill the soon-to-be-vancant Barclays building.

The closed NatWest bank in Stalham. Picture: MARK BULLIMORE (Image: Archant Norfolk 2015)

'(Bank closures) will probably affect elderly people more as they also go into the bank for a conversation and to get them out of the house. But hopefully we can attract new business that still get them out of the house.'

Cashpoints: is there one near you?

Data published by Link show 1,400 cashpoints have closed across Great Britain in the first eight months of 2018, and consumer group Which? says ATMs are closing at the rate of 250 a month.

Link's data shows South Norfolk and Broadland are among constituencies with fewer than five ATMs per 10,000 residents, while all other areas in Norfolk and Waveney have between five and 10 cashpoints per 10,000 residents.

The Barclays Bank branch in Eaton has also closed. Pic: Archant. (Image: Archant)

The cashpoint data shows: Norwich North - 62 free-to-use, eight paid-for (total 70); Norwich South - 133 free-to-use, 23 paid-for (total 156); Great Yarmouth - 97 free-to-use, 83 paid-for (total 180); North Norfolk - 56 free-to-use, 11 paid-for (total 67); Broadland - 41 free-to-use, seven paid-for (total 48); Breckland - 56 free-to-use, four paid-for (total 60); King's Lynn and West Norfolk - 87 free-to-use, 22 paid-for (total 109); South Norfolk - 44 free-to-use, seven paid-for (total 51); Suffolk Coastal - 69 free-to-use, 15 paid-for (total 84).

MORE: Town left with no banks as more closures announced.