A CAMPAIGN has been launched to prevent two well-used banks from closing.

NatWest is closing 197 branches as part of a major shut down by its parent company, the Royal Bank of Scotland Group.

The company is also shuttering 62 RBS branches at a cost of hundreds of jobs.

Among the NatWest banks which are closing are the ones in Benfleet and on Canvey.

The news has upset residents, with many attempting to get the decision reversed by emailing the local chief executive of NatWest.

Alison Woolf, 55, of Canvey, has banked with the branch for her whole life, and her mum has been a customer since 1958.

She said: “What a shame.

“My mum is so upset she goes in a couple of times a week and knows all the ladies so well.

“She is in her eighties and will now have to change banks as the nearest branch will be Basildon.

“I hope we aren’t going to see another block of flats on that corner.”

Chas Mumford, Conservative councillor for Canvey East at Castle Point Council, said he had recently been talking to staff in the branch about the closure.

He added: “The branch is going to be sadly missed and I will be writing to the chief executive of NatWest to ask him to reverse the decision to close it.

“I am concerned about the impact on elderly people and also the local businesses who use it to pay in cash.

“They will have to go to either Basildon or Southend if they want to keep with NatWest.”

Tom Skipp, Conservative councillor for Appleton ward at Castle Point Council, encouraged residents to get in touch with the chief executive as well about the Benfleet branch.

He said: “I fully understand that the the number of transactions being completed online by NatWest customers is increasing. But I am also concerned that the decisions to close branches on the High Street will make things difficult for the most vulnerable members of our society.

“I am particularly sorry to learn that the branch at Tarpots is to close next year as it is my experience that this branch is very well used by senior citizens.

“I would be interested to learn from NatWest what they intend to do to assist their customers who still require a counter service and may not find travel to a different branch quite so easy.

“I have asked NatWest to reconsider.”

He added that some customers of Barclay’s had changed to NatWest after that branch had closed down and will now be forced to change again.

The email address is si.allen@natwest.com