FURIOUS residents have been left feeling 'abandoned' by a major bank's decision to close a number of branches.

The decision by NatWest to close its operations in Ulverston, Grange-over-Sands, Ambleside and Settle has left some people without any access to brick-and-mortar banking facilities.

They face long trips to other parts of the county, using the more limited post office facilities, or must learn how to use online banking before the branches start closing in the autumn.

MORE TOP STORIES:

Lakes Parish Council clerk Michael Johnson, who lives in Ambleside where the Natwest bank is the last one following the closure of Barclays in 2014, said: "I am appalled. We have been abandoned again in Ambleside and in the Lakes parish.

"There is going to be 52 square miles of Lakeland and not a bank in sight. It's ridiculous.

"People who were banking originally with Barclays had to go through all the rigmarole to swap to Natwest a while ago, and our Natwest isn't open regular hours, it's run off the main shoot in Windermere.

"In the height of summer, when business is best, people are going to have to go to Windermere and we all know how difficult the A591 can be.

"You can't bank coins online. It is impractical for people who need to bank coins. This really does have a serious impact.

"What has happened is the banks, that are supposed to be serving the people, are taking away from the people.

"It is fine for people who want to bank online. But some people don't bank online because they are fed up of scams, and prefer the friendly face of a cashier. A lot of people of a certain age prefer that.

"In search of corporate greed the banks are abandoning the personal touch."

NatWest says that between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by more than 400 per cent and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350%.

"Since 2011 we have seen the number of transactions in the Ulverston branch decline by 31 per cent; Grange-over-Sands 49.7 per cent; Ambleside 33 per cent and Settle 40 per cent.

"We are communicating with our customers affected by the closure and proactively contacting vulnerable and regular branch customers.

"We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closure to six months.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron met with a senior Natwest official to discuss the changes and press them to reconsider given the nature of the local population.

He said: “While a general trend towards online banking is undeniable, Natwest must consider the specific communities that are served by the branches in Ambleside and Grange-over-Sands.

"There is a significant proportion of elderly residents, many of whom don’t even own a smartphone or have access to the internet.

"Simply switching to online and mobile banking is not an option, and could put their account security at risk if they are not comfortable using the technology.

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said: “Yet another bank pulling out of Ulverston is very disappointing and further underlines the importance of saving the town’s post office. Next month the campaign will step up a gear with activities being planned in Ulverston.”

Ulverston mayor Mark Wilson said: "This forces people into new arrangements. The immediate consequences are that it is not that easy to swap accounts to a bank or a building society that remains.

"Looking objectively the move is towards digital for everything really. That is what we are trying to suggest to people.

"It's moving that way in the county council too. There is some sense in it and communities are coming together to try and learn about digital options and the library services are trying to nudge people in that direction."

NatWest users have been raising their concerns on The Westmorland Gazette website and 'King Edward' said: "I'm a NatWest Grange customer and I too do online banking but you can't do every thing online, the branch is needed if only to pay in or discuss issues like mortgages etc.

"The banks have made us turn to online and mobile banking which is great but we can't do without the branch. I will be looking to move banks before the branch goes."

The NatWest Ulverston branch will close on September 27 followed by Grange on October 3 and the Ambleside and Settle branches on October 9.