We're Closing Our Wealdstone Branch. but It's Not Goodbye

We’re closing our Wealdstone branch. But it’s not goodbye. Thursday 2 September 2021

Even though we’re leaving Wealdstone, we’ll still be here for you

1 Key information

This branch will be closing its doors on Thursday08/02/2021 2 September 2021. Google Maps

Where is the nearest Where is the nearest cash machine? Post Office? Asda Wealdstone 4-12 Headstone Drive 35-43 High Street Harrow Nearby branch Wealdstone HA3 5QL Stanmore HA3 7AE Distance: 90 metres Distance: 25 metres

Where are our nearby branches? Nationwide Harrow Nationwide Stanmore Nearby branch Pinner 325 Station Road 32 The Broadway Harrow Stanmore Middlesex Middlesex Closing branch HA1 2AA HA7 4HF Wealdstone Tel: 0345 266 0224 Tel: 0345 266 0618 Distance: 1.0 miles Distance: 2.0 miles More details More details

Nearby branch How can I continue banking? Harrow

Just because this branch is closing it doesn’t mean you’re on your own. You can use our Internet Bank, which you can use safely and Map data@2021 Google. Contains public Alternatively securely, 24 hours a day. To find out more, sector information licensed under the you can use our go to nationwide.co.uk Open Government Licence v3.0 Banking App

https://www.google.com/maps/@51.60095,-0.333502,12.68z 1/1 Nearby branches Once Wealdstone branch has closed on Thursday 2 September 2021, you’ll find us at one of our nearby branches. If you do need to visit us, please make sure you follow current social distancing guidelines to keep everyone safe. Please visit the Harrow Council website, for transport options and information.

Nearby branches - Harrow and Stanmore Managing your banking from home Nationwde Harrow Coronavirus update - 325 Station Road Coronavirus update - Even though some aspects of the Harrow Being an essential service, most of our lockdown are being eased, we’d like Middlesex branches have stayed open during lockdown. to remind you that our Internet Bank HA1 2AA and Banking app are still the most Tel: 0345 266 0224 As the lockdown rules are gradually easing, convenient way of accessing a wide Distance: 1 mile we can begin to welcome you back into range of services. our branches. Registering for our digital banking services is a quick, easy and safe Nationwide Stanmore Naturally, any ongoing guidance around social way to stay in control of your money, 32 The Broadway distancing and mask wearing must be whatever the circumstances today Stanmore and in the future. Middlesex followed, to keep us all safe. HA7 4HF You can check the opening times and status of Register for Internet Banking Tel: 0345 266 0618 your nearby branches by visiting Discover our Banking app Distance: 2 miles nationwide.co.uk/branchfinder

3 Why we’re closing

Why we’ve made the decision to close First, we look at how it’s being used: how Fall in branch transactions Important information At Nationwide, our branches are important many members have visited over the past to us. They’re at the heart of your Society and five years prior to Covid, how the branch 13% We’re part of something called we know you value the face-to-face service is being used and what other ways those the ‘Access to Banking Standards’, they offer. branch members have been choosing to which means that if ever we do close bank with us. Even before the coronavirus branches, we do so responsibly. But it’s more than that. We were founded changed so much of our day-to-day lives, The overarching principle of the by like-minded people coming together to this branch was not being used by enough standard is: help each other to save and buy homes of members to make it viable. their own. They built communities together 2015 2020 “Customers and relevant stakeholders and our branches were a vital part of those Next, we consider what’s the best use of of a bank branch that is closing will be communities. As they still are. the Society’s money for all members. As we % of members exclusively provided with clear, understandable, said before, this branch is being used by Which is why we’re so committed to our using Wealdstone accessible documentation and fewer and fewer people every year. But the branch network and we’ll always do our best day-to-day running costs keep rising. When a information about that specific closure to keep our branches open. In fact, we’ve branch costs your Society more money than as soon as the bank is able to do made a promise to every town and city in the it returns, we have to act for the benefit of so, also what it will mean for them UK that has a Nationwide branch that you’ll 12% every member. and how they can continue to bank still have a branch until at least following its closure.” January 2023. We’re also finding more and more members are turning to alternative ways to look But there are some towns and cities where after their money with us, like our online we have more than one branch. And where bank, Banking app and Telephone Banking we have more than one branch serving a % of Wealdstone members services. These services require significant community, we will always have to consider registered for online banking investment to maintain them. So, we have to the future of the most underused branch spend fairly and in a way that benefits all our and whether it makes sense to keep it open. members’ different needs. Unfortunately, that’s what’s happened in the case of Wealdstone. Finally, we look at the local community and 72% the surrounding branches available. In the How we came to the decision case of Wealdstone, we have four branches There are many we have to consider when within a 3 mile radius, including our we’re looking at closing a branch. And it’s refurbished Harrow, Stanmore and Pinner Please note that the data was never a decision that’s taken lightly. branches. gathered pre-lockdown.

4 Working with our communities Even though we know it’s the best thing to do, we do appreciate that closing our Wealdstone branch will affect the local community. Which is why we’re working to understand the impact of closing the branch and how we can ensure we’re still offering our members the very best service.

We’ll contact your representatives in the local area, including your local MP.

We’ve written to our branch members to let them know we’re closing. That includes members who have visited the branch in the last 12 months and have made at least three transactions.

Our branch team are speaking to members in the branch to explain the options they have. We will also be arranging a ‘Tea and Tech’ event to help give members the confidence to manage their money online, safely and securely.

We’re putting communications in the branch and online to let people know that we’re closing.

We will be proactively calling vulnerable members to ensure they are supported through this change.

We’ll share any feedback we’ve received before we close the branch.

5 We’re here to help

How to get in touch with us Ways to continue about this branch closure banking

Want to chat to us Want to sort it all out If you want to speak without having to from the comfort of to someone about travel? Or are you on your own home? Just this branch closure the move and need to log on to Internet our Regional Director speak to someone? Banking on Heather Hazley will be No problem, give us a nationwide.co.uk more than happy to help. call on 03457 30 20 11 which is available 24/7 Heather.HazleyOffice@ nationwide.co.uk

Or give us a call on Check your balance 0345 266 0224 and pending transactions, search your statements, make fast, simple payments and more with our Banking App

6 Your Feedback

Member Feedback Stakeholder Feedback Who we spoke to?

You said:  Your local MP You said: There is disappointment about having to travel to different branches and the inconvenience  I am disappointed the branch has had to close. We’ve been contacted by of parking or using public transport that this will cause. two local MPs about the Our response: Our response: closure, and responded to We provided details of how members can access our other branches and how they could get more As a member owned organisation, we have to look at both in detail. information about alternative ways of banking. Including our Tea and Tech webinar event on Wednesday what is in the best interest for all. For branches requiring 18 August 2021 at 3pm, which will give advice and guidance to help members use digital services. significant investment, and where there are modern branches nearby, we have to consider whether it is in the interest of our wider membership to keep them open. We need to determine whether it makes more sense to use that You said: money to improve and retain branches elsewhere in our There is a concern that members were not consulted about the closure of  Your local network, particularly in areas where there is lower provision.  Wealdstone branch. councillors from the London Borough Our response: of Harrow We do appreciate that closing our branch will affect the local community. Which is why we We received no feedback notified community representatives, including the local council, to understand the impact You said: about the closure. of closing the branch and how we can ensure we’re still offering our members the very best What steps are you taking to support vulnerable service. We have followed the industry access to banking standards, providing notice to our  members? members and clarity about the alternative places and ways to bank with us. We sent letters to those members who regularly use the branch explaining our decision. Our response: When we close a branch we always try to ensure that Age UK vulnerable members are fully supported. Vulnerable members can call us on 0345 266 0224 where a member We received no feedback of the team will be on hand to answer any questions. We about the closure. have already been proactively contacting many vulnerable members about the closure to ensure we support them as best we can.

What next? Wealdstone will close on Thursday 2 September 2021 We’ve considered all the feedback we’ve had from stakeholders and members about the branch closure. But unfortunately, some branches are simply used much less than others, so we have to make the difficult decision to close them.

7 Glossary

Our whole membership You’re a member if you have a current account, mortgage or savings account with us.

Branch members Exclusive: Members who have used this branch more than twice in the last 12 months.

Preferred: Members who have either used this branch for 50% of their transactions, or have used three or more branches but used this one most recently.

Other: Members who have carried out transactions at this branch but don’t fall into the ‘exclusive’ or ‘preferred’ categories.

This is based on people carrying out financial transactions at the counter or using the cash machine inside the branch.

% decline in branch usage over 5 The percentage change in transactions carried out at our counters between 2015 and March 2020. We chose this timeframe to provide a full 5 years year review prior to the impact of the pandemic.

Branch member demographic This shows the members who use this as their main branch, segmented by their current age that we have on our records.

Post Office Nationwide Current account members can withdraw cash at the Post Office.

Access to Banking Standards This sets out best practice guidelines for banks considering closing branches or reducing opening hours significantly. To find out more you can visitlendingstandardsboard.org.uk/other-voluntary-standards/access-to-banking-standard

Transactions In this instance, transactions refers to over the counter transactions only.