WE shared the news that there have already been 200 bank closures scheduled for the rest of 2024.

Banks have announced they will close several branches in the UK, including 50 from NatWest, 43 from Lloyds, 28 from TSB, 26 from Halifax, 20 from Royal Bank of Scotland and 14 from Barclays.

Here's what readers said.

READ MORE: TSB: Locations of 36 bank branches to close

Darren Niman said: "It sends the wrong signals out to businesses and personal customers that an area doesn't matter any longer. Not everybody has access to a laptop or the Internet. A physical branch is a hub of the community where you can actually talk to a real person, interact with the community and network. It just makes us more insular and withdrawn from the outside world. After the pandemic this is the last thing we need."

However, Chris Barker had a different view. 

"Since when was a bank a hub of the community? They are just profit-making businesses not social clubs. I do understand that not everyone wants to use online banking, but I have better things to do than stand behind a queue of people waiting to pay in a cheque or bags of cash so branch closures don't really bother me personally. I don't know anyone with capacity who is unable to use internet or mobile banking (many of whom are in their 80s) but I do agree that there should still be a choice, and that choice is being taken away."

Barbie Clarkson said: "Banks just don’t get it that not all customers can cope with online accounts or that many of us do not want to speak to India or similar to do our banking or sort out banking issues regardless of whether it’s business or personal."