We've Successfully Saved the Caversham Nationwide Branch
Posted by Rob Wilson, MP for Reading East, at 14:02, Fri 27 September 2013:
I have been in close dialogue with Nationwide for several weeks, impressing on the Building Society the seriousness with which I viewed their proposed closure of the Caversham branch. We have had a constructive and ultimately positive series of conversations that mean the branch will continue to serve Caversham and also have an improved service offering.
This result would not have been achieved without the active support of the Caversham Traders Association, CADRA and the always magnificent Caversham public. This is about people power giving me the tools to use robust but constructive persuasion to reverse the initial decision. I made it clear to Nationwide that Caversham would not support a company that did not support Caversham. I was due to hold two public meetings on Monday and Tuesday next week that would have set a countdown for customers withdrawing their accounts. Persuasion backed by united consumer action does tend to focus the mind. It demonstrates that communities can have enormous impact, even on big financial organisations, if they work together.
Obviously Nationwide will have its own view about why it reversed its decision and I’m not going to be churlish about the rights and wrongs of what happened, I’m just grateful we have the result Caversham wanted. Whatever the reason, the staff at the branch deliver a first class service that its customers really value. I hope old and new customers will now take advantage of the reprieve and actively use Nationwide services.
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Posted by Ben Hunt, 14:15, Fri 27 September 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
I'm not convinced that this needed a concerted campaign. There are three other bank branches within 200 yards of the Nationwide in Caversham, and plenty more a short bus journey away.
Do we really need four? Perhaps the empty site might have been used to provide something of more use to the town centre.
I understand the politics of it - easy runs on the board at the expense of financial services firms - but was this really the most pressing constituency issue? I think we lost more when the trainer shop shut...
Posted by Philip Williams, 17:28, Fri 27 September 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
I am pleased the Nationwide is going to stay open. For what ever reason they have changed their mind, thanks for all the support.
Mr Hunt has missed the point, there is a great deal of difference in having an account at a mutual building society than a bank. Yes we have three banks all played a big hand in causing the financial crisis of 2008/9
Posted by Michael Kiehn, 08:53, Sat 28 September 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
Nationwide has an online service as does every other bank/building society. Value add from a branch these days is minimal. I hope Mr Wilson didn't waste too much of his time on this issue. There are far more impiortant things for him to do.