A COUNCIL has been asked to explore possible replacements for traditional banking services as more and more branches close.

Councillor Clive Trott tabled a notice of motion detailing the loss of banks and cash machines across the Horsham area.

He told a meeting of the district council that Horsham alone had lost six banks since 2018, with TSB being the latest.

He added: “[While] most residents are able to bank online, a significant number of vulnerable or older residents continue to rely on banking in person and access to free cash-dispensing and deposit facilities.

“Furthermore, for local businesses, it’s often not practical to hold large amounts of cash on the premises.

“Although these closures are a commercial decision for the banks, they have social consequences for Horsham district.”

Alternatives being used elsewhere in the country include bank hubs – a counter service set in a post office – and allowing mobile banks to set up shop in car parks.

There was cross-party support for the motion.

Tory Councillor Peter Burgess said someone needed to "bring the banks to heel and tell them to sort things out".

He found it "quite incredible" that so many banks were closing, even in large areas such as Horsham.

He wondered why some areas were not facing the same problem, for example Rustington.

He said: “There’s something not happening here – the banks are working to an agenda that they possibly shouldn’t be.

“In any town of the size of Henfield, Billingshurst or all of those, there should be at least one major bank doing all these things.”

Councillor James Wright, lead member for environment and rural affairs, said he had asked five major banks for meetings to discuss how they could keep branches open or, failing that, how they could assure people would have access to cash.

He said he would share the results of his discussions with the banks at the next policy development advisory group.