The people of Street have been left outraged and frustrated following the announcement that Natwest Bank is set to close its branch in the village this summer.

The branch is set to close permanently on July 19th, 2023, meaning the nearest open Natwest branch will be in Wells, and the only remaining bank branch in Street will be Lloyds TSB.

The news, which was confirmed by Natwest Bank at the end of last month, has sparked concern among local residents, who have expressed their disappointment and anger at the decision. Many are worried about the closure's impact on the local economy, with some predicting that it could lead to a decline in footfall and trade for local businesses.

Speaking about the closure, one local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, said: "I'm devastated to hear that Natwest is closing. It's a huge blow to the town, and I worry about what this means for local businesses and the community as a whole.

Jade Young, a Street resident, was among those left disappointed. "This is a terrible decision. The bank is a vital part of the community, and its closure will majorly impact those who rely on its services, particularly the elderly and vulnerable," she said.

The closure of the Natwest branch in Street comes as part of a wider trend of bank closures across the UK, with many high street banks struggling to keep up with the changing landscape of the banking industry. However, this has done little to ease the frustration felt by local residents, who see the closure as yet another example of big corporations prioritising profits over the needs of the community.

"Big banks don't care about the people that have banked with them for years," said Ray Flynn. "It's about making money."

"I'll go to a bank which cherishes its customers," said David Green. "Clearly that won't include NatWest who'd rather abandon service to the Post Office. If I wanted an account with the Post Office, I'd have opened an account with them."

In response to the closure, a spokesperson for Natwest Bank said: "We understand that this news will be disappointing for our customers in Street, and we would like to assure them that we remain committed to providing the highest levels of service until the branch closes. We would encourage anyone who has concerns about the closure to get in touch with us to discuss their options."

Despite this reassurance, many residents remain unconvinced, and are calling on Natwest Bank to reconsider its decision to close the Street branch. With the closure set to take place in the coming months, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on the local community, and whether Natwest Bank will take action to address the concerns of its customers in the area.