CUSTOMERS have been left reeling after a third bank said it would close in Thornbury.

NatWest is the latest bank in the High Street to announce its closure after both TSB and HSBC previously said they would close.

The closures have been branded 'despicable' by one customer who says 'a whole generation of people' have been forgotten. 

The branch which is currently situated behind scaffolding on The Plain in Thornbury High Street will close on September 22.

Gazette Series: The building is surrounded by scaffoldingThe building is surrounded by scaffolding

HSBC is set to close in August and the TSB in St Mary Shopping Centre closed its doors last week. The closures mean only Lloyds will remain in the town.

People who use NatWest are being advised to visit the Yate branch instead.

But a customer who travels from Berkeley to use Thornbury after his local branch closed, said it just wasn't good enough.

Steve Dowe said: "I think it's absolutely despicable, I had a letter saying the nearest is in Yate, but that's not closest for us - how can we afford the fuel to drive to Yate?

"It's bad enough they closed the Berkeley branch.

"We were already sent here as the next closest branch after they shut ours.

The staff advise you to use an app but my mother is 88 years old. She can't be expected to do that.

"This whole situation is ridiculous- it's like they've forgotten about a whole generation of people."

Another customer Robert Wichard added: "We already moved from the TSB - I heard it's going to be a Wetherspoons pub, it's just awful."

NatWest initially announced the closure of 32 branches, another 28 have been added to that list, including Thornbury.

A spokesperson for the bank said it was due to the drop in transactions by personal customers adding: "The way people bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with an increased demand for mobile and online services as customers benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.

"Closing a branch is a decision we take very seriously.

"We know it can affect people who are less confident with the alternatives we offer, and we'll always work hard to guide you through the changes and find the best way to serve you from now on."