BANKING top brass have met with Dwyfor Meirionnydd’s MP to discuss the closure of branches in the region.

Liz Saville Roberts has held urgent talks in Westminster with senior representatives from Barclays and NatWest to pass on concerns expressed by constituents following their decision to close a Barclays branch in Bala and a NatWest branch in Dolgellau.

The Plaid Cymru MP has been campaigning against the closure of rural bank branches in her Dwyfor Meirionnydd constituency, and is seeking assurances that alternative measures would be put in place to meet the needs of her constituents left abandoned by the closures, particularly in Bala where there is uncertainty surrounding the future of the town’s post office which is set to close temporarily next month.

She said: “Banking is one of the most basic and important services that people rely on and I know how worried people in Dolgellau and Bala are that both NatWest and Barclays will close their branches in the towns this year.

“It simply isn’t good enough for banks to continually perpetuate the myth that all customers should move onto on-line banking because we all know that not everybody has access to a reliable internet connection. Some elderly people are reluctant to use e-banking, yet they obviously still need access to services.

“I requested this meeting to convey the pressing concerns expressed to me by my constituents who are worried about the future of their local banking services and who feel aggrieved by the continued withdrawal of these vital local services.

“Specifically there are pressing concerns in Bala where the imminent closure of the Barclays branch will be compounded by the temporary cessation of post office services in the town.

“Banks have a social responsibility to serve our communities but sadly this picture is the same across north Wales, and the collapse in local banking will again hurt the most vulnerable.”

Writing to Dolgellau Town Council, Mrs Saville Roberts, added: “Over the last two to three years, despite every effort, NatWest decided to close its branches in Blaenau Ffestiniog, Tywyn, Porthmadog, Barmouth and Bala.

“If NatWest would continue with the decision, I will endeavour to ensure that adequate provision of ATM machines is available, together with suitable banking services offered by the Post Office. And I will continue to call on the Westminster Government and the Welsh Government to support Plaid Cymru’s proposal to establish a network of community banks, calling for new laws and regulations.”

Both Barclays and RBS, who run NatWest, said they decided to close the branches after seeing a drop in the number of customers using it.