A HIGH street bank has been blasted by a mid and west Wales Assembly Member for its decision to close its Harlech branch.

HSBC wrote to its Harlech customers in September notifying them that the town centre branch will close on Friday, 4 December at 11.30am.

In a Senedd debate in Cardiff, on 14 October, Joyce Watson claimed the closure will hit local businesses and residents who cannot easily access the internet or transport.

She said: “Customers’ accounts are being transferred to Porthmadog, a good ten miles away, or there’s Barmouth, or Blaenau Ffestiniog, which is further away again.

“The fact is, in recent years, all of the major retail banks have been closing branches left, right and centre.

“It is deeply misguided and unfair. It hits shops and other businesses, and it makes life harder for people who don’t have access to the internet or their own transport.”

HSBC says Harlech branch staff can advise customers on alternative ways of banking, including training on telephone and internet services. It also stressed there will be no redundancies; staff will be redeployed to other branches.

A spokesperson for HSBC added: “Harlech residents are able to check their balance, pay in cheques and cash and withdraw money to or from their personal HSBC accounts at the Harlech post office."