[Closed] Who is still using bank branches and why?

To answer your question, "old folk".
Last time I tried to use one I popped in at 15 minutes before closing to ask a question and got told to look online. Not been back since.

Only when I need to pay in cash and have it credited immediately, rather than waiting til sometime next day via the ATM.
HSBC are completely in the dark ages, can't pay cash in at all via their ATM.

P.s. I'm not that old 🙂

Only for jobs involving cash, which will be Cyclo-cross race float and entry fees only. App and online all the way otherwise.

Paying in cheques (very occasionally, and machine inside can sometimes manage that automagically).

And, old folk - used to have to withdraw a certain amount for my mum, who didn't want #20 notes, that would have been too easy for me..

Paying in cash to HSBC in a small town a couple of weeks ago. I'd happily use a machine if I could.

To pour my big change jar into their machine that puts it all into my account, before I go on holiday and spend it all on pizza and ice cream.

It's about all I get from the ****s these days.

Last time I went in to our local branch was to get some Euros only to be told to nip next door to the travel agents as they did a better exchange rate!

The next time will be to cash in the loose change I've collected in the giant whisky jar 😊

All regular payments are either direct debit or standing order. If I've a payment to make to non-business then it's "what're your bank details?" and I'll do it via bank transfer online. Not bothered with apps so far, I'm rarely in that much of a rush!

To get my mum's Lasting Power of Attorney registered - they need to see the original.

To pour my big change jar into their machine that puts it all into my account, before I go on holiday and spend it all on pizza and ice cream.

Didn't know banks had those, I always used one in Sainsburys which skimmed off a few % as a commission....

After getting locked out of my account and getting the security questions "wrong" only way to find out why was to visit branch & yes you've guessed it, they had incorrect records...
Was executor of my dad's will to, which involved a few visits to various branches, paying in his tax refund from HMRC to be greeted with a "that's nice" from the cashier was not great 😕

Two days ago. I wanted to open an ISA, I didn't have an account with that bank so had to go in person. It took nearly a month to get a Saturday appointment.

Two days ago. I wanted to open an ISA, I didn’t have an account with that bank so had to go in person. It took nearly a month to get a Saturday appointment.

I've always done my ISAs and SIPPs online, never had to visit a branch (not that they have any).

My dad, he generally hates online banking and can’t / is unwilling to use a phone to receive TFA prompts.

My wife also had to physically visit a branch to get power of attorney, with her mum, over her dad’s financial affairs.

Knowing the few left are mostly sales offices now, once in the last 3 years. To convert my Wife's current account into a joint account and set up some ISAs. I would have rather done it over the phone.

We sometimes get cheques, but you can cash those via the app now.

I don't have much sympathy for banks, but I worked for a Bank long enough to know there's bugger all money in retail banking. Pretty much everyone in the UK expects a free account, with a perfectly secure online portal, global access to cash, a very large, very well paid security team making sure they don't get scammed or robbed, plus a branch built like a vault on every high street staffed just in case they fancy popping in unannounced during their lunch break to pay in a cheque, or just have a chat plus a million other things, oh and they want paying interest on the money they 'lend' to their bank.

I transfer money via my Bank, and get replacement cards too, set up DD/SO’s and change them.

Normal stuff banking wise I guess.

I needed a quid for the gym lockers a month or two ago, and decided it was easier to withdraw one over the counter, rather than get a tenner from an ATM, find somewhere to spend it to get some change, and then have to get rid of the rest too.

Don't think I've used physical cash money since then.

ADDENDUM: I was going to open a TSB savings account, but was told I had to go into a branch with ID to do so . I work in central Sheffield but the nearest branch is in some random suburb I've never been too 2.5 miles towards the wrong side of town... needless to say I didn't bother.

if its anything like my local branch, having a chat and liberating pens.

and liberating pens

Aren't they all on chains or was that just in the 80s?

The sooner there is less human interaction the better.
Oh, and get rid of cash.
Barcode checkout,contactless and app lifestyles are the future.
Do all your shopping online and have it delivered by drone.
Do not step over that line.
Keep out of that area.
Your call is very important and you are 1345th in the queue.
DO NOT make eye contact or interact with any of our staff.
Your call,location and mood may be recorded for training purpose.
We are here to help.
You are now 1344th in the queue.
Please use your CALM app if you feel upset.
Have a nice day.

I would if they hadn't closed my local one - to get coins. Is it just me these days that struggles to get coins, 99% of my spending is cashless but there's a local farmers market where none of them seem to have thought to get a card reader (with the look she gave me you'd have thought I spat on one stall holder when I tried to buy a sourdough loaf with a £10 note). Oh and my barber's is now £11 and have no card reader.

I asked at the local Post Office if they could change a £20 into £1 coins and they said no, they don't keep much change themselves these days.

I'm fine with being a cashless society but it's a pain when not everyone is!

Occasional business chat especially if there may be a print invoice that could trouble my reserves.
Otherwise done online although I had a couple of minor hassles with cancelled subscriptions still being charged. Counter staff sorted it, organised refunds and then gave me details of how to do it online.
Occasionally it is useful to chat to a person who listen to you and helps make decisions about how to move forward within the banks guidelines.

and liberating pens

Aren’t they all on chains or was that just in the 80s?

It would be pretty rare to see a pen in a Branch these days, they tend to use chip and pin type devices instead and/or electronic pens.

I often think Canada is in the dark ages still, but can't you deposit cheques through an app in the UK yet? Also, HSBC having no facility to deposit cash through an ATM LOL. They probably don't have any staff left in the UK to figure than one out.

Is it just me these days that struggles to get coins,

Probably yes. I use contactless for pretty much everything yet I’ve a pocket full of coins. We also save £2 coins for treat days, cashed them in a couple of weeks ago and already we have about £80 for our next day.

but can’t you deposit cheques through an app in the UK

Yes. I discovered that through this forum, didn't know it existed. Lloyds app does it

I visited mine last Thursday as it was closing down for good on Friday. I used it because I like the staff, wanted them to remain employed and want to keep our high street alive.

Yes. I discovered that through this forum, didn’t know it existed. Lloyds app does it

So does the Halifax app my teenager daughter tells me.

but can’t you deposit cheques through an app in the UK

I just post mine to my local branch as I can't be arsed to cycle across town to visit it (and Barclays App only works up to £500).

Oh and my barber’s is now £11 and have no card reader

Ah, the last bastion of cash society. Same at my barbers, run by young blokes who have phones and DAB radio,they have WiFi, games consoles for kids but still only take cash. Barbers and kids piano lessons are pretty much the only time I use cash now.

I haven't been into a branch since setting up my daughters bank account a few years ago when they needed a physical ID check.

Like the OP, I am amazed that Apps haven't already overtaken branch visits.

visited mine last Thursday as it was closing down for good on Friday. I used it because I like the staff, wanted them to remain employed and want to keep our high street alive

Perhaps a bit late to leave your visit to the Thursday then! The good news is that now it has closed the building can be used for something more useful rather than a relic of the past.

What are bank robbers going to do when they all close? Won’t somebody think of the criminals!

Phishing obvs

They’ll come after Your thumb.

Registering a PoA, and proving identity for a new account (didn't want to post my passport).

Blimey I feel old now. Have set up most of our bank business to work without much/any interaction, so whenever I've set up online banking I've forgotten the passwords and login stuff, iirc the last time needed two passwords(?). So I've definitely no app and any online stuff is lost. Helps that I'm off during the week quite often so if I do need anything popping in isn't exactly a chore.

I'll pop in to my local branch this week as I have a couple of USD cheques to pay in. GBP I can do with my phone.

Setting up bank accounts for both my kids, I had to attend in person with borth certs and photo id.

Paying in cash and cheques!!that the kids got for birthday presents.

I'm self-employed, a lot of my older clients think paying me in cash is helpful. Every other week I pop into town do my banking no big inconvenience.

I still go into my local branch of Lloyds on occasion to have a f2f meeting with my account manager to see if there’s any advantageous changes that can be made, and later this month my mortgage is to be paid off so I’ll need to get that sorted out.
Doing everything online is all fine and dandy, but as has been shown on many occasions, if there’s a big network outage, the likes of fasthaggis are going to be royally screwed!
How will you pay for your skinny latte when the contactless terminal won’t read your card or phone?

You also need a branch when you need to prove who you are by attending in person with photo i/d when the anti-fraud measures get you locked out of your own accounts...

Once a year, at Christmas, for the free mince pies.

All three of our kids have cash jobs or jobs with tips.
We use post office or bank branch for them to pay in.

We visit once a month to pay into kids savings acct. it’s part of a life lesson for them, not the visiting the branch, but the actual saving, moving their cash from their piggy banks and physically depositing it in their savings acct. they get to track it each month so keeps them excited seeing it grow.

Transferring a house deposit to the solicitors. TBH I was quite glad of someone else double checking the account number was right...

That and getting the mortgage for said house purchase.