Nationwide Takes Pop At Bank Ahead Of Closure

Nationwide has taken a pop at Santander ahead of the bank closing its branch in Market Harborough next month.

The building society has placed a big sign in the window of its High Street base that reads ‘Santander is leaving Market Harborough, maybe its time you left Santander.’

The message in the window of Nationwide

The closure of Santander on July 1st will leave the town centre with no dedicated banks, following a number of other branch closures in recent years.

Only Nationwide and Market Harborough Building Society will remain open, together with a Banking Hub offering banking services to customers of different banks.

Santander & Nationwide in Market Harborough

Nationwide has pledged to keep all its branches open until at least the start 2028 and a spokesperson said: “Our customers tell us they want choice in how they bank. That’s why in addition to extending our branch promise to Virgin Money branches, we have continued to invest in both our branches and our app and we remain committed to our Market Harborough branch.

“Last year we refurbished over 100 branches – around the same number we have found ourselves the last branch in town due to competitor closures.”

A spokesperson for Santander UK, said: “Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.

“However, we believe that the introduction of our new Community Bankers and the exciting plans we have for our remaining network of 349 branches and Work Cafés, alongside the rapid and innovative improvements to our award-winning mobile banking app, will provide the right balance of digital banking and human interaction when required.”