NATWEST has announced the dates it will be closing a number of branches across Somerset.

The banking giant has revealed it will be closing the NatWest Worle branch on June 20, the NatWest Langport branch on October 5, the NatWest Wellington branch on October 9, the NatWest Burnham-on-Sea branch on October 10 and the NatWest Cheddar branch on October 11.

In a letter sent out today, the company said it was due to the way people choose to bank.

A spokesperson added: "Since 2011 we have seen the number of transactions in the Worle branch decline by 48 per cent, the Langport branch by 21 per cent, in the Wellington Somerset branch by 35 per cent, in the Burnham-on-Sea branch by 26 per cent and in the Cheddar branch by 45 per cent.

"These customers are actively choosing to bank in different ways, with 60.6 per cent of customers at the Worle branch choosing to use our digital banking options.

"In Langport 53 per cent of customers are choosing to use our digital banking options.

"In Wellington 54.6 per cent of customers are choosing to use our digital banking options.

"In Burnham-on-Sea 53.4 per cent of customers are choosing to use our digital banking options."

Customers affected have been contacted and NatWest says it has created a new role to help customers with assistance.

A spokesperson added: "We have a national agreement with the Post Office to provide our customers with a range of banking services.

"Customers can pay money in, take money out, check balances and business customers can get coinage." 

Burnham-on-Sea's MP James Heappey has reacted angrily to the news.

He said: "I was angry and frustrated to hear yesterday morning that NatWest have decided to close their branches in Cheddar and Burnham-on-Sea. As ever they have cited the rise in online banking and undoubtedly branches are now used less than they were before.

"However, NatWest are failing to recognise two important factors. Firstly, there are many areas served by the branches in Burnham and Cheddar where broadband connections are poor and online banking less attractive than it is to those with better connections elsewhere.

"Secondly, there is a large elderly community in both places amongst whom the remaining branch users will be disproportionately concentrated. Digital exclusion is becoming a real challenge as it affects the elderly and vulnerable the most.

"NatWest had an advertising campaign not too long ago about the strength of its branch network.

"I'm disappointed they've abandoned that position and I hope that their customers in the Cheddar and Burnham area will now abandon them. There are other banks in Cheddar and Burnham.

"It is important that residents who value the use of a branch switch their accounts to those that remain so that those banks have commercially viable branches that escape any further branch closure programmes.

"I will continue my campaign over access to banking as well as seeking assurances from NatWest over the future of those whose jobs will be affected by these unfortunate branch closures."

MP for Taunton Deane, Rebecca Pow, said: "I was disappointed to hear of another bank closing in Wellington.

"While this is a commercial decision for NatWest, I have requested a meeting with them to express the concerns of my constituents and establish what support they will be offering."