Anger as bank moves to close two branches; Rhiwbina and Ferndale customers hit by decisionfrom HSBC.

Byline: Kathryn Williams 

CUSTOMERS have reacted with anger at plans to shut two branches of HSBC in the next three months.

Branches in Rhiwbina, Cardiff, and Ferndale in the Rhondda will close in January.

TheRhiwbina branch onHeol y Deri is the latest facility to close in the village. The Principality Building Society branch closed two years ago and the Post Office and Barclays Bank have also vacated the village.

Mary Clark has lived in Rhiwbina for 51 years and she said there has always been a bank at the site on Heol y Deri.

Shesaid:"Wealways get good, sound advice there and personal contact with the staff, so they're upset, we all are.

"It's such a small facility, it can't be costing HSBC much to keep open.

"Most of the older peoplewho use thebankwill startkeepinga bit extra money at home and that's not a good thing. It's another nail in the coffin of the village. If people go to the Whitchurch branch, they are likely to stop there and do the rest of their shopping."

Branch customer Mike Taylor said: "I've been a customer at this branch for 32 years and we use it about twice a week. It's a very important service.

"The nearest branch now will beatRhyd-y-Penau,whichisnot even on a bus route, so if you've not got a car, you've got no chance."

Howard Parsons owns Elegance Kitchens which opened on Rhiwbina High Street just six months ago. He said he was annoyed by the closure of the branchas itwas themainreason he moved his business to the area.

He said: "It's brilliant for my customers fromRhiwbina, most of whom don't use a card to pay for things. They use cash or cheque.Why are they closing it - it's a busy bank."

Independent councillor Jayne Cowan is putting together a petition to hand into the council. "We rely on the little services. If we want to encourage new business to the area, we need services like banks here. I'll be asking the council for their support and HSBC to reconsider," she said.

A spokesman for HSBC said that the decision to close the branches was not taken lightly and the impact on communities was considered.

He said: "The reality is, if a branch is to close, it's because the branch is no longer viable.

This is usually a result of a significant decline in customers using the bank."

HSBC at Heol-y-Deri, Rhiwbina, is set to close at 3pm on Friday, January 15, 2010, and the branch at High Street, Ferndale,Rhondda, will close at 12.30pm on Friday, January 29, 2010.

CAPTION(S):

Local residents protest outside the Rhiwbina branch of the HSBC bank with councillor Jayne Cowan, centre