The ability to bring a banking service to new areas is all down to an expanding network of mobile vans and branches. The vehicles are especially popular in remote communities where they help customers do their banking face to face even where the demand for a permanent branch isn't there.
£600,000 is currently being invested in five new mobile banks which will take the number of vehicles in the fleet to a total of 24. Each mobile branch has a team of bankers who, when taken together, drive 7,000 miles every week and make 425 stops in 357 communities right across the country.
Jane Howard, MD for Personal & Business Branch Banking, said: "There are more ways to bank with us than ever before, including online, telephone and mobile app. However, we know that some of our customers still prefer to bank with us face-to-face. We're delighted that in many places our mobile branches can provide this service. The very nature of our mobile branches is that they can travel to more communities, some of which have never had a bank, so that we have even more opportunities to serve our customers. I visited Wales last week and it was great to see how our mobile branch service in places like Swansea is reaching many communities where we have never had a physical branch at all."
The NatWest service around Swansea takes in a total of 19 stops over the course of each week and 11 of those communities, places like Resolven, Coelbren, Abercraf and New Tredegar, have no banks serving them at all.
Sally Maybery, 48, Office Manager for a motorcycle company uses the NatWest mobile bank in Gorseinon and says: "Without the mobile bank, I'd have to drive about 10 miles to get to the nearest branch. I use the bank for our business and because of that I'm limited on when I can visit, so having the mobile bank nearby is really handy."
For more information on the mobile banks including routes and timetables visit NatWest or RBS.
