IT USED to be easy to identify any high street in any village or neighbourhood in this country by the presence of just three institutions: a baker, a butcher and a bank.

The growth in out-of-town supermarkets put paid to many of the first two a long time ago and numbers of the latter have been dwindling steadily for years. But, all of a sudden, that trend seems to be accelerating.

The closure of the Yorkshire Bank branch in West Bowling – which was due to take place this week, according to the Bradford-based company – was just one of more than 600 local branch closures by banks and building societies expected to take place across the country this year alone (and it’s still only May). Among those places due to be stripped of such institutions in 2017 are Bingley and Otley (NatWest), Eccleshill (HSBC), Wyke (Yorkshire Building Society), Heckmondwike and Elland (Halifax) and Settle (Lloyds).

The reason behind the closures is most often quoted as the rise in internet banking and the growth in online-only providers.

The banks say that most customers no longer need to visit a branch, that the development of technology means face-to-face services are required by fewer and fewer customers. There’s no doubt that, for many, online banking is easy and convenient and all they will ever need.

But that still leaves a very substantial number of people for whom a local bank branch is essential.

That notion was confirmed last week in a survey carried out for Saga which, they say, showed that up to 5.5 million over-50s are likely to switch banks if their local branch closes.

Almost 10,000 over-50s were interviewed and half said that banks should not be allowed to close local branches. In addition, 37 per cent said that a high street bank was essential for many of their financial transactions. And 21 per cent said that they completely relied on a local bank because they did not bank online at all.

Perhaps not surprisingly, almost half of the over-80s surveyed said financial transactions would become “impossible” for them, with their next closest branch too far away to visit.

Saga is now calling for banks to do more to maintain a high street presence for their older, loyal customers in particular.

The banks, of course, are gambling that our ageing population, which will see record numbers of pensioners, will be entirely digital-savvy by the time they reach retirement. But there’s some evidence that it’s not just the older generation that wants face-to-face dealings with their banks.

The strategic consulting company Accenture carried out research in the US last year that led them to this conclusion: “Younger customers, particularly those aged 18 to 24, make the greatest use of branches…. they do not view digital as a complete substitution. Research shows this age group has a noticeably greater bias towards physical interaction, all pointing to their need for face-to-face contact, advice and reassurance…”

Given that where the Americans lead the British often follow, it seems likely that trend may well be similar in the UK.

Bank closures are driven by cost-cutting and thousands of job losses will accompany those closures. But how should the banks hang on to those customers for whom online-only banking is not acceptable?

Lloyds are at least making some attempt by expanding their fleet of mobile banks but, of course, stopping the van once a week in a small town high street is not suitable for many people either.

Given that they’re just about all in the same boat, I think there’s a much easier solution.

When it suits them, banks are very happy to co-operate with their competitors (such as the use of ATMs serving the customers of multiple banks).

So why not extend that to the whole premises? One shared office in every low-footfall high street with staff from multiple banks serving their own customers side by side is a win-win for everyone concerned.

I’d be willing to bet that market research would show that most people choose their bank on the basis of the services and packages on offer as well as convenience. So what’s to lose?

Getting their heads together and teaming up could be a “no-brainer” for the banks – and a life-saver for many a high street….

City can count on fans for Wembley glory bid

CLAIMS IN a national newspaper that Bradford City fans have shied away from buying tickets for Saturday’s League One play-off final at Wembley because they have been “scared off” by Millwall’s reputation are a joke.

Not only will the police and Wembley authorities be working hard to ensure such a showpiece event passes off without incident but more than 22,000 Bantams supporters have already bought tickets. It just shows yet again that the national press has no idea how dedicated, loyal and passionate Bradford City fans really are. Believe me, lack of support will not be an issue…

A Vintage way to help keep this fantastic facility going

IT WAS great to see such a fabulous turn-out for the Bronte Vintage Gathering again this weekend.

Organisers were hoping that the thousands of people who attended the two-day event in Cullingworth would help them to get somewhere near the record £29,000 raised for the Manorlands hospice in Oxenhope last year.

The Sue Ryder hospice costs £9,000 EVERY DAY to run so these events, along with voluntary donations, are a vital tool in keeping it going.

It’s hard to find someone in this district who hasn’t directly benefited from the support Manorlands gives to terminally-ill patients and their families or who, at least, knows someone who has.

The Bronte Vintage Gathering alone has raised more than £300,000 for the hospice over the course of the last 20 years. Long may these fund-raising extravaganzas continue – and long may our readers support them in this brilliant cause.