Branch Closure Impact Analysis Askern Branch AUGUST 2015

Transcription

1 Branch Closure Impact Analysis Askern Branch AUGUST 2015

2 Introduction This document provides a summary of the impact assessment for the closure of Askern branch based on internal analysis and local community engagement. HSBC supports the industry wide Access to Banking Protocol (ABP) introduced by the British Banking Association (BBA) in May ) Background Information a) Local Information (Source: Office for National Statistics The population is circa 13k and the average age is 42 years; above the average for England (39) This was a former mining town however the last mines closed in the 1990s 18% of the population is retired 71% of households are owner occupied and 13% are rented from the council (England average 9%) Levels of unemployment are slightly above the rest of England 77% of households have access to a vehicle b) Broadband availability (source Standard and fibre optic broadband is available in the area and speeds are good c) Closing Branch Details Branch Name: Askern (400865) Region: North Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 09:30-15:30 Announcement Date: Last Bank: 8 th June 2015 Closure Date: Yes 4 th Sept 2015 at 14:30 d) Merger Branch Details (Accounts will be managed by this branch. Account details will not change.) Branch Name: Doncaster, High St (401920) Distance: 7.7 miles Opening Hours: 09:00-17:00 Mon/Wed/Fri 09:00-18:00 09:00-14:00 Tue Thu Sat Page: 1

3 2) Alternative Ways to Bank a) Alternative HSBC Branches Branch Name Opening Hours Distance Thorne (404414) Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri Tues 09:00-17: miles Selby (404029) Mon/Wed/Thurs/Fri 09:00-17:00 Tues Sat 09:00-14: miles b) Parking Locations near Alternative Branches Doncaster High Fisher Gates or Church Street 4 mins away 2 for 2hrs Selby Market Cross 2 mins away 1 for 2hrs Thorne Church Street or Bridge Street 2 mins away Free Parking c) Local Public Transport to Alternative Branches Transport Service Destination Frequency Time For Journey Bus Doncaster 2-3 per hour 35 min Bus Selby Every hour 45 min There is no direct route to Thorne by public transport You can also carry out most day-to-day banking transactions by calling our customer services specialists on Alternatively you can manage your account using our Online Banking service or our Mobile Banking App available on iphone, ipad, ipod touch, AndroidTM and BlackBerry 10 devices. If you d like more information on alternative ways to access your account(s) or to register for telephone and/or Online Banking, visit our website at hsbc.co.uk/waystobank or any of our branches. Page: 2

4 d) Alternative Banking Facilities i) Competitors Competitor Location Distance Opening hours Cash Machine Lloyds Woodlands 5.6 miles Mon/Tue/Thu/Fri 09:00-16:30 24hrs Wed 09:30-14:30 Sat 09:00-13:00 All HSBC and first direct personal current account holders can use the Post Office for cash deposits and withdrawals and to deposit cheques. The nearest Post Office is : Market Place Askern 0.0 miles Mon-Fri 09:00-17:30 Internal Sat 09:00-12:30 ii) Fee-Free ATMs and PayPoint Locations (Source: These local stores have cash machines, PayPoint and cashback services available. Store Location Distance Opening Hours Co-op Askern 0.1 Miles Mon- Sun 07:00-20:00 Post Office Doncaster 3.3 Miles Mon-Sat Sun 06:00-22:00 07:00-22:00 There are 9 ATMs within a 2.5 mile radius, of which 5 are fee-free. An ATM will not be left following closure as there is access to fee free and 24hr ATM s in the area. 3) Community Engagement We have written to all the customers of this branch to advise of our decision and to offer support and training on alternative channels if required. We offer one-to-one appointments to provide customers with advice and practical solutions; including training on telephone and internet banking where appropriate. In line with the Access to Banking Protocol we give all our customers 12 weeks notice so that they have time to consider their options. Our relationship managers are also proactively contacting their customers to advise of the closure and to answer any questions. Local business managers have been discussing the closure with their customers and the options available and our branch employees will continue to be available to talk through the many alternative ways of banking which are open to our customers. Page: 3

5 We have and will continue to meet with vulnerable customers who may have problems accessing alternative banking facilities. We have contacted Ed Miliband MP to advise of the closure, explaining the reasons and how we are supporting our customers. We have offered a meeting should Mr Miliband have any concerns or questions. A meeting has not been requested however Mr Miliband did write to HSBC on behalf of his constituents. We have also been in contact with the Reverend of St. Peter s Church in Askern regarding the closure of the branch. An informal meeting was held between HSBC and The Reverend at Doncaster, High Street branch on the 25 th June A follow up meeting was arranged and attended by The Reverend and representatives of HSBC. An advert including a telephone number will be published within the September issue of the Askern Gazette offering customers an appointment to discuss issues and alternative ways to continue to bank with us. We have contacted the Askern Citizens Advice Bureau and the Town Clerk of Askern Town Council regarding the closure; providing contact details for customers to call should queries be brought to the attention of either organisation. As part of the analysis used to inform our decision to close this branch we considered: The number of personal and small business branch users affected The age profile of branch users (i.e. both older and younger users) The number of vulnerable and other branch users who are more dependent on their branch than others (including but not limited to customers that are disabled, elderly, digitally excluded and/ or lower income customers) An analysis of potential future service users The availability of alternative ways to bank for customers who live locally or travel to use this branch is considered suitable. For further information please contact Doncaster, High Street branch on Braille, Large Print and Audio copies of this document can be provided upon request. All information provided was correct at the time of publication. Page: 4