Rustington NatWest Closes Despite Campaigners' Efforts

The last NatWest bank in Rustington and the entire Arun district closed its doors today, leaving local campaigners disheartened after gathering over 1,000 signatures in opposition.

Fiona Bates, who initiated the petition against the closure, expressed disappointment, stating, “We are really saddened to have not been listened to and that our protest did not change anything.”

In May, protesters, including local councillors and business representatives, demonstrated outside the bank in Churchill Parade, holding banners and pages of signatures to save the branch.

A spokeswoman for Arun District Council acknowledged that the decision was driven by corporate motives, citing the bank’s shift towards digital services. A NatWest spokeswoman highlighted the increasing use of digital banking, with over 80% of customers using online services. Despite this, she noted that NatWest continues to invest in its branch network and other shared banking solutions across the UK.