I WAS shocked and very upset to hear of the closure of the Co-op Bank in Tavistock. Their ‘ethical policy’ claims ‘actions speak louder than words’. How true has that proved to be?

All these are their words: ‘We’re not your usual bank’, ‘We are proud of our passion for the community’, ‘Being a responsible bank that treats customers fairly’ and ‘Good customer outcomes rather than volume of sales’. So why are they closing our Tavistock branch? ‘Because it is too small’ I am told, leaving us having to make a 50-mile round trip to visit the branch in Plymouth. Very environmentally ethical!

With 54 branches closing nationwide, I wonder how many hundreds, probably thousands of customers, pensioners and disabled included, are being abandoned by the Co-op Bank’s so called ‘ethical policy’? Socially deprived — their commitment to support, are losing out yet again.

At least their claim that ‘actions speak louder than words’ (the cover of their policy advertising) was true. They have obviously not listened to our words and their ‘actions‘ are going to cause, at least, great inconvenience and hardship for many people.

A mobile bank that can visit rural areas, or banking facilities in some of their larger stores, as the post office does very successfully, may provide a solution and a way forward.

What does anyone else think?

Lesley Weldon

Tavistock

I WRITE to express my regret that Tavistock is to lose the Co-op Bank.

I am aware that there are several banks in Tavistock but the Co-op is an ethical bank (although this has changed somewhat since they lost their wholly mutual status). In addition, the staff are friendly, helpful and don’t push new products on customers.

I know I can use the online service but many people do not want to go down this road. Similarly, I can use the post office to access my account but even that is limited. To make larger withdrawals or to transfer between accounts will mean a trip to Plymouth — a place I never go to.

I am sure I am not the only customer who will be sorry to see this office close and hope that one day the powers that be will recognise that Tavistock is a town with a huge hinterland and worthy of reopening there.

Val Bolitho

Yelverton