Emergency decision: These areas will not have a single bank

Bank branches are being significantly reduced, with another 200 branches being “closed” in short order. What happened;

Another 8 Barclays branches were closed in May. If they do the math, more than 6,000 have closed in Britain in 9 years.

By the end of 2024, it is estimated that there will be 33 constituencies, including two in London, They will not have a single bank branch“Who?” says the consumer group.

The report was published by consumer group Who? Because it seeks to make the “avalanche” of lockdowns and the “devastating” effects they could have on local communities an electoral battleground.

Barclays is the bank accused of closing the most branches: its decommissioned outlets are said to make up around 20% (1,216) of the total.

The rate of closures peaked in 2017, but appeared to be slowing before what the consumer group calls a “worrying increase” in recent months.

It accuses the banks of “apparently engaging in a race to close branches” after the government in 2020 announced plans to introduce laws to protect access to cash, which could make it more difficult to close a branch if there is no alternative provision.

New rounds of closures are announced every few weeks, as banks justify downsizing their networks on the grounds that customers are rejecting traditional over-the-counter services in favor of online and mobile banking.

There are already 200 closures planned for the rest of 2024, including 50 from NatWest, 43 from Lloyds, 28 from TSB, 26 from Halifax, 20 from Royal Bank of Scotland and 14 from Barclays.

The number of lost stores is equivalent to 60% of the national network that existed nine years ago.
In London, two constituencies – Erith and Thamesmead, and Dagenham and Rainham – are set to become banking “black spots”, as is Sedgefield, the former seat of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Banking trade body UK Finance said changing customer habits – with growing numbers of internet users and mobile banking users – means banks “have to make difficult decisions about retaining their branches”.

The Guardian points out that while millions of consumers have made the move to banking digitally, there are still large numbers who are not yet ready or willing to make the leap and need accessible alternatives.

Banks: Also open on Saturday – List

Banks: Many banks also operate on Saturdays, which many people don’t know.

However, everyone should know that all are systemic Banks They have some stores open on Saturdays as well. especially:

Stores extended hours
The following Alfa Bank branch operates as a digital corner and remains open from Monday to Friday until 6:00 PM and on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM:

Athens Airport – Athens International Airport
It is noted that the specified store does not serve cash transactions.\

Shops in Cervia (526) and Zotilio (536)
It is hereby announced that as of Monday, November 4, 2019, the work of the Servia (KA 526) and Tsoteli (KA 536) branches will be modified, as follows:
The Servia store (KA 526) will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, opening hours 8.00 – 14.00.

Tsotiliou Store (KA 536) Every Tuesday and Friday opening hours 8.00 – 14.00.
Chrysopoleus (574) and Eleftheropoleus (576) were stores
It is hereby announced that as of Monday, December 1, 2021, the Chrysoupoleos (CA 574) and Eleftheroupoleos (CA 576) sub-actions will be amended as follows:
Chrysoupoleos Store (KA 574) Monday to Friday, opening hours 8.00 – 14.00.
Eleftheroupooleos Shop (KA 576) Every Wednesday and Friday, opening hours 8.00 – 14.00.

Polykhneto Appendix (348)
As of April 11, 2022, the Polichnito branch (KA 348) will operate every Tuesday and Friday, opening hours from 8.00 to 14.00.

Karlovasi Annex (606)
As of February 28, 2022, the Karlovasi branch (KA 606) will operate every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, opening hours from 8.00 to 14.00.

Lindos Annex (676)
From 1 October 2023, the Lindos branch (KA676) will operate every Thursday, opening hours from 8.00 to 14.00.

National Bank

The National Bank operates the store located in the Golden Hall Shopping Center on weekdays: 9.00-19.30 and Saturday: 10.00-16.30.

In addition, there are i-bank stores, where you can apply for the bank’s products and access i-bank services with the support of the i-bank store team.

It is located in the following areas:

i-bank store The Mall Athens – Monday – Friday 10:00 – 20:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
i-bank store Aristotle Square – Monday 09:00 – 16:00, Tuesday – Friday 09:00 – 20:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
i-bank Kifissia Corner – Monday 11:00-18:00, Tuesday – Friday 09:00-20:00, Saturday 10:00-17:00
i-bank store Athens Metro Mall – Monday – Friday: 9.00 – 20.00, Saturday: 10.00 – 17.00
i-bank Mediterranean Cosmos Corner – Monday – Friday 10:00 – 20:00, Saturday 10:00 – 17:00
i-bank corner Larissa – Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 09.00-20.00, Tuesday, Thursday: 09.00-15.00, Saturday: 10.00-17.00

Piraeus

The group operates the store at Stadiou 4 and Amerikas Street on weekdays from 08:00 to 18:00 and on Saturdays from 10:30 to 15:00. In addition, the bank’s customers can conduct specific transactions through the five electronic branches:

In Citylink, Ampelokipoe, Glyfada, Diagonios Thessaloniki, Heraklion Crete, Ioannina, Larissa, Peristeri, Chalandri, Chania.

The entire list here

Eurobank

Two Eurobank branches remain open on Saturday as well. It is: Mall of Athens. Monday to Friday 10:45-17:00 – Saturday 10:15-16:30

Cosmos Mediterranean: Monday to Saturday 10:00-16:00

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Banks: It’s no joke! They bring discounts – what transactions are of interest to them

Banks plan to “cut” the commission they charge for small transactions, such as in shops, kiosks and street markets.

Information reported by ERT indicates that the new framework established by banks stipulates a “reduction” of commissions by up to 50%, in the section that concerns them. This means that the commission on relatively low value transactions will be limited to 0.10% (from 0.20%).

The issue of public procurement has been urgently raised by the Union of Greek Banks, and the leadership of the Ministry of Finance appears to have secured a commitment a few days ago that the margins of reductions in fees for using POS in transactions with a relative small value will be reviewed, with announcements expected in month. March.

Let’s remember that kiosks, stores and a total of 35 retail branches have space to install POS, which they should have already requested (until yesterday) until the end of March. Otherwise, with today’s data, they are threatened from April 1 with a fine of 1,500 euros.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance decided to extend the deadline by one month – until March 31.

The decision came after an extensive meeting in the ministry, where the political leadership was briefed on the conditions witnessed by the market.

For the 35 branches required to install POS, the deadline has been postponed from March 1 to April 1, with the condition that the POS be ordered by February 29. If they apply for supply but installation is pending, the compliance period can be up to 31 May.