In the past week, it has been announced that the NatWest Bank will close, and staff at Pablo Lounge have told customers they also are to close.
NatWest is the latest in a line of banks to shut their Abingdon branch — part of a wider national trend as customers increasingly move to digital banking. However, the closure will inconvenience local businesses that rely on bank services such as change, as well as customers who are not online. The Abingdon branch is set to close on 24th September.
Pablo Lounge’s staff were informed last week that it is closing at the end of this month. Since opening in 2018, Pablo Lounge has been a popular spot for coffee, snacks, or meals — staying open until 11 pm and known for its friendly staff. Its quirky interior, with paintings covering the walls, gave it a charm that will be missed.
According to the 1854 Billings Directory, the bank started as the London and County Bank in Abingdon in the Market Place. In 1909, the London and Westminster Bank merged with the London and County Bank. More Mergers and name changes followed until in 1968, the Westminster Bank merged with the National Provincial Bank to form the National Westminster Bank – now known simply as NatWest.
The NatWest was originally in the premises now occupied by the Coventry Building Society in the mid to late 70’s, I don’t know when they moved into their present location but it’s sad that we are to lose the last proper bank.
You are right. According to the Abingdon Directory in 1977 The National Westminster Bank (previously the National Provincial Bank) was at 2 Market Place (near the Coventry Building Society). In 1977 The Westminster Bank Ltd, MG Car Club, and various other businesses were at 11 Market Place, the current location and original position of the London and County Bank.
The Coventry premises was previously National Provincial Bank. The present Market Place premises was Westminster Bank, These two banks merged in the 70s to form National Westminster Bank, now just NatWest, and for a short while this Bank had two branches within a few yards of one another, until the previous National Provincial premises was closed and then became Coventry Building Society.
Seems we still have an HSBC until at least 2026 if their press release promises are to be believed.
So, the customers of another bank are to be compulsorily introduced to the world of telephone ‘choice trees’, and hangin’ on the ‘phone waiting to talk with a human being, who will tell them that they’ll forward them to the right extension and then promptly ‘drop the connection’ …
It’s not been your choice, it’s been some consultants confirming to the bank’s board that life will be so much better without a ‘real customer interface’ and bonuses so much bigger.
It’s to force people onto online banking where they will control your account even further, e.g. taking fines directly out of your account then it will be the introduction of CBDC, where your money won’t be your money and will have an expiry date!
in fairness it will be due to less use. people bank online, why wouldn’t they?
Maybe because a lot of people like to go somewhere that they can feel they are listened to and valued . Not just a voice on the end of a phone line go in there if i’m in town. I dont use phone banking ot internet banking. Not everyone likes to do things that way. Respect that everyone is different.
Pablo Lounge’s place will make a good Turkish barbers.
I was thinking flats, but barbers makes sense.
Abingdon could be renamed Barberingdon then.
And a BIG neon sign, Daniel, to add to the Heritage Ambience of the town.
Why is Pablo’s closing? That is such a shame. Every time we have friends stay over we take them there for breakfast and it’s always good.
Something in the oxford mail today.
https://www.thisisoxfordshire.co.uk/news/25232446.lounges-close-abingdon-restaurant-pablo-next-month/
“Kate Eastwood, managing director of Pablo’s parent company The Lounges, said: “We have made the very difficult decision to close Pablo Lounge in Abingdon on 2 July 2025.
“ We are consistently reviewing our estate and we have come to the unfortunate conclusion that continuing operations at this location is no longer commercially sustainable”.
I wonder why the banks don’t agree a banking hub, with each bank staffing the hub one day a week. For the elderly who are not online, the situation must be intolerable.
And what happened to “the listening Bank”?
The ‘listening bank’ was the Midland Bank acquired by HSBC in ‘92 brand retired in ‘99. We had a branch in Abingdon which is now HSBC.
Nationwide is still open and it is a mutual so you share the profits. They have promised not to close branches for a few years at least.
There is a banking hub in the Roysse rooms weekly
That’s a well-kept secret – I have googled it and it’s for Lloyds customers – I am one of them but have never been told about it. Barclays also have one on the Business Park. But these places don’t do anything to do with actual money – they’re just for managing your account.
I believe that you can do cash transactions – and pay in cheques – at the Post Office, but am not sure how easy that is.
There is a programme to do exactly that Paul (my sister works there). I think they’re mainly focussed on places where there is only one bank left in town so wouldn’t be relevant to us just yet, but I think they have bigger plans for banking hubs shared by the banks over time. I’ve put a link below if you’re interested.
https://www.cashaccess.co.uk/about-us/what-we-do/
Thanks, Iain. Thanks to Martin too.
They stopped listening
Make friends with Westminster Bank
https://youtu.be/PcMBWLg4h0c?si=Ab0cVCqBxK9-vxXE
Just what they aren’t doing right at this minute.