THE parent company of Derbyshire Building Society has announced plans to close 10 more branches.
As part of its plans to integrate the Derbyshire brand into its estate, Nationwide Building Society intends to shut outlets in Asbourne, Bakewell, Belper, Clay Cross, Glossop, Littleover, Oakwood, Shirebrook, Sinfin and Staveley.
A further 10 Derbyshire branches will be re-branded as Nationwide. These are: Allenton, Beeston, Borrowash, Burton, Derby, Mansfield, Mickleover, Nottingham, Sutton in Ashfield and Swadlincote.
And seven Nationwide branches will integrate with nearby Derbyshire branches. These are Alfreton, Ashby, Chesterfield, Heanor, Ilkeston, Matlock and Ripley.
Nationwide first announced plans the integrate the Derbyshire brand within its business in May last year.
The changes are due to take place over a single weekend this winter.
Customer Rob Steven said he had received no warning from Nationwide about the changes.
He said: "It's one big farce. My wife and I went to the Littleover branch and there was a note saying it was closed.
"We then went to Mickleover and that was closed to. Then we tried East Street in the city centre and that was shut.
"We spent 45 minutes going between them. Why not put a note up saying they were all closed? Other people in the city centre said they had done the same thing as us.
"The closures are a real shock. How can they just shut branches at the drop of a hat without telling customers anything?"
In a statement, Nationwide said: "The group has looked closely at its sites in and around Derbyshire and considered a number of factors before making any decisions.
"When determining how the new network would look, one of the key considerations was to minimise the impact on customers.
"Subsequently, the new footprint will ensure 89% of Derbyshire customers are within five miles of a Nationwide branch, an increase from 69% under current arrangements.
"Customers of the Derbyshire will have access to 27 branches when the new network in the region is in place and over 700 branches across the UK.
"As a result, customers of the Derbyshire will have increased access to self-service channels including a larger network of ATMs together with award winning internet and mobile banking facilities.
"Nationwide aims to retain as many employees as possible, with redeployment to other branches in the network or across the wider business.
"Where redeployment is not possible, employees will receive training, support and advice on future opportunities.
"No employees are being put at formal risk of redundancy today and Nationwide continues to work with them on the detail of how the changes may affect them."
