Isla and Seren are part of a £3.8m investment into five new mobile branches. The first new mobile branch, Morag, was launched earlier this year in the South East Borders, with the other two still in development.
These new mobile branches are equipped with satellite technology so customers can do everything they can in a normal branch, from withdrawals to deposits, to opening accounts. There’s even on-board iPads so customers can register for online banking.
The nature of the mobile branch means it can travel out to communities and reach them in a way that traditional branches can’t. The two new mobile branches make a combined total of 29 stops every week, with some stops in places that have never had an RBS or NatWest branch like Kippford and Crocketford in the South West Borders and Nefyn and Betws-Y-Coed in North Wales.
RBS and NatWest are now providing banking services to 90 such communities across the UK that, historically, have never had one of the banks' permanent 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.
Jane Howard, MD for Branch and Private Banking said: “The number of transactions taking place in some of our branches have dropped significantly over the last few years, which meant we had to make the difficult decision to close these branches.
“However, I’m really pleased that we’re able to provide two new mobile branches into the South West Borders and North Wales communities so that that our customers can still have access to banking services.
“Our customers have reacted well to the branches – they seem pleased that they are able to travel to more places in the community, not just places where branches have closed.”
Don't miss the opportunity to visit the new mobile branches: check Seren and Isla timetables.
