Nationwide Building Society upgrades in-person banking services despite wave of bank branch closures
Nationwide is providing new services at its bank branches
GETTY/NATIONWIDE
Nationwide Building Society has confirmed a big change which will affect the services offered at its bank branches.
The financial institution will use its high street branch network to give specialist dementia clinics to help older customers.
Bank branch closures have become the norm over the last decade with more than 6,000 sites closing since 2015, according to Which?.
Unlike other high street banks and building societies, Nationwide has promised to not remove any of its current banking services from areas it operates in.
This is part of the building society's wider "Branch Promise" which has been extended until 2028.
The latest improvement to its in-branch services from Nationwide is in partnership with Dementia UK.
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The building society is offering enhanced services for customers with issues relating to dementia
NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETYCustomers will be able to book free clinic appointments in branches on set dates to get, and the society said they are available for anyone affected by dementia, including family members and carers.
It has partnered with Dementia UK to offer specialist support across more than 200 branches and said the clinics will also be available to non-Nationwide customers, as well as its members.
In-branch dementia services will include both health and financial support, including understanding a dementia diagnosis, worries about symptoms, support on how to best care for someone with dementia, as well as financial and legal issues and emotional support.
Health and financial guidance will be provided in branch or over the phone, according to Nationwide, which is funding 30 Dementia UK Admiral Nurses.
The building society's chief executive Debbie Crosbie outlined the reasoning behind the latest update to bank branches.
She explained: “Nationwide wants to help people live their best life possible, for as long as possible.”
Dr Hilda Hayo, Chief Admiral Nurse and Chief Executive at Dementia UK, said: “Nationwide’s backing, network and expertise will help us deliver practical and emotional face-to-face support across the country in their branches, helping us bring specialist dementia care to more people than ever through our Admiral Nurses.
“With the number of people living with dementia in the UK set to exceed one million in the next year, this timely partnership will be crucial as we increase our services and reach to ensure no-one faces dementia alone.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Bank branch closures are continuing at an 'alarming rate', according to Which?GETTY While Nationwide is expanding its in-person services for customers, other banks are withdrawing themselves from Britain's high streets.
Which? reports that there has been around rate of around 53 each month since 2015, which is around 60 per cent of overall banks that existed.
Overall, NatWest Group, including NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, have closed 1,368 branches.
The second biggest number of closures came from Lloyds Banking Group which is made up of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, at 1,180 sites.