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  1. Published on: 13/11/2021 09:46 AMReported by: editor
    Name:  dadsarmymh.jpg
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    Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Fifty years ago I opened my first bank account with the Midland Bank in Victoria Road, New Brighton. It was a typical local branch, with friendly staff... and often when you were there you got a friendly wave from the branch manager.

    It reminded me so much of the bank managed by Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army (hence the picture) - a very warm and comforting place where you were valued as a human being.

    Then the bank was taken over by HSBC. I stuck with it and was very happy with the excellent service I received from the Wallasey branch.

    Twenty-six years ago I moved to Southport and I felt so special when I walked into the Lord Street branch - it’s an amazing and beautiful building. And the staff were so friendly.

    This morning I called into the Lord Street branch. It was like the financial equivalent of the Marie Celeste. Just two members of staff, with one in a dehumanising pod and another at a desk. The counter which used to deal with customers has been removed. Gone. It is no more. It reminded me of a museum.

    What’s happened to personal service?

    I also called into the Post Office in Chapel Street. You enter via WH Smith’s and have to climb a dangerous set of stairs to reach the first floor where the P.O. is based.

    There was a very long queue of customers (mainly elderly) with just TWO members of staff on duty. I’m not blaming those staff members in any way, they gave excellent service. But again, what’s happened to personal service in terms of having enough staff to deal with the public?

    And before that, I bought some goods from Tesco in Eastbank Street. Again, long queue of customers with just ONE member of staff at the tills. In desperation, she urged us to use the self-service tills - which were card-only.

    I’m sorry, I don’t know to use those tills and you wait ages if you ask for help. Plus the fact, I want to be served by a human being. And how many staff have been made redundant to make way for their electronic equivalent?

    What’s happened to personal service in 2021?

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    Your Comments:


  3. local says:13/11/2021 11:05 AM
    They want to make more money.

  4. Likes Nash liked this post
  5. Toodles McGinty says:13/11/2021 11:20 AM
    What makes the stairs in WH Smith dangerous?

    Why didn't you use the lift?


  6. Likes salus.populi, Nash, Cyclopath, Doneal9234 liked this post
  7. MICK/GILLY says:13/11/2021 11:33 AM
    Then the bank was taken over by HSBC. I stuck with it and was very happy with the excellent service I received from the Wallasey branch.

    And anybody that had more than £1000 in their account ( for the past 12 months ) at this time got paid out by HSBC as a shareholder. I had a couple of grand in my account and was going to change banks but left it in past the qualifying date and it nearly doubled. Then I changed banks .

  8. salus.populi says:13/11/2021 12:30 PM
    Retired guy who was bemoaning cancel culture the other week gets yet another media airing for his personal opinion.

    Seems this site is so desperate for content these days it will copy and paste any old garbage from Facebook.

  9. gsgsgs says:13/11/2021 01:08 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by editor View Post
    Name:  dadsarmymh.jpg
Views: 0
Size:  91.8 KB

    Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: Fifty years ago I opened my first bank account with the Midland Bank in Victoria Road, New Brighton. It was a typical local branch, with friendly staff... and often when you were there you got a friendly wave from the branch manager.

    It reminded me so much of the bank managed by Captain Mainwaring in Dad’s Army (hence the picture) - a very warm and comforting place where you were valued as a human being.

    Then the bank was taken over by HSBC. I stuck with it and was very happy with the excellent service I received from the Wallasey branch.

    Twenty-six years ago I moved to Southport and I felt so special when I walked into the Lord Street branch - it’s an amazing and beautiful building. And the staff were so friendly.

    This morning I called into the Lord Street branch. It was like the financial equivalent of the Marie Celeste. Just two members of staff, with one in a dehumanising pod and another at a desk. The counter which used to deal with customers has been removed. Gone. It is no more. It reminded me of a museum.

    What’s happened to personal service?

    I also called into the Post Office in Chapel Street. You enter via WH Smith’s and have to climb a dangerous set of stairs to reach the first floor where the P.O. is based.

    There was a very long queue of customers (mainly elderly) with just TWO members of staff on duty. I’m not blaming those staff members in any way, they gave excellent service. But again, what’s happened to personal service in terms of having enough staff to deal with the public?

    And before that, I bought some goods from Tesco in Eastbank Street. Again, long queue of customers with just ONE member of staff at the tills. In desperation, she urged us to use the self-service tills - which were card-only.

    I’m sorry, I don’t know to use those tills and you wait ages if you ask for help. Plus the fact, I want to be served by a human being. And how many staff have been made redundant to make way for their electronic equivalent?

    What’s happened to personal service in 2021?
    Dangerous set of stairs, there is a lift?

  10. Likes Cyclopath liked this post
  11. gsgsgs says:13/11/2021 01:19 PM
    With online banking, £100 contactless card payments, contactless mobile payments, telephone banking why do people actually go into a bank or a post office for that matter.

    There's no need for a bank to be in a huge building with multiple floors and offices with high rents etc. makes more sense to do as the Post Office has done and move into an existing building such as a supermarket.

  12. salus.populi says:13/11/2021 01:54 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by gsgsgs View Post
    With online banking, £100 contactless card payments, contactless mobile payments, telephone banking why do people actually go into a bank or a post office for that matter.

    There's no need for a bank to be in a huge building with multiple floors and offices with high rents etc. makes more sense to do as the Post Office has done and move into an existing building such as a supermarket.
    Depositing cash is the only reason i go now that i can scan cheques in via my bank's app. And both of those only happen very very occasionally.


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