BANKING chain NatWest has announced that it will be closing its branch in Runcorn town centre this summer.

The move comes as the bank will shut 40 more branches across Britain in 2023, in addition to the 66 it announced earlier this year.

NatWest says the average number of counter transactions has shrunk by almost two-thirds in two years, paired with a 38 per cent rise in customers using mobile apps.

The NatWest branch on High Street is earmarked for closure on Wednesday, August 2.

A NatWest spokesman said: “As with many industries, most of our customers are shifting to mobile and online banking because it is faster and easier for people to manage their financial lives.

“We understand and recognise that digital solutions are not right for everyone or every situation, and that when we close branches we have to make sure that no-one is left behind.

“We take our responsibility seriously to support the people who face challenges in moving online, so we are investing to provide them with support and alternatives that work for them.”

Customers needing to visit a NatWest branch in person after August 2 will have to travel to Widnes, Warrington or St Helens.

On the impact of shutting banks, Jenny Ross, money editor at Which?, said: “Branch closures do not just make access to cash more difficult for the millions of people across the country who rely on i.

“They also cut vital in-person banking services, which are particularly important for customers who are not ready or able to bank online.

“Schemes introduced by the banking industry to protect these services, such as banking hubs, are a good start in plugging gaps left by the removal of physical branches.

“But they must be rolled out much more quickly if consumers are to feel their benefits.

“Also of concern is the prospect of cash-users having to fork out their own money just to make withdrawals.

“The Government must look again at proposals to introduce guaranteed minimum levels of free access to cash.”