Guest Post: Why Has My Bank Abandoned Me?
Today I am sharing something a bit different – an opinion piece by a fellow writer who asks to be known as SD.
In her article, SD expresses her frustration with banks who no longer seem to care about their customers, especially the older ones. I guess this is something many Pounds and Sense readers may be able to relate to.
Over to SD, then…
I just read in the news about yet another banking app outage – this time, with serious consequences. Salaries were delayed, house moves disrupted, and critical money transfers put on hold. Everything ground to a halt, with no clear resolution in sight. And it got me thinking – if AI is so advanced, why can’t it fix outages like this?
Paying bills was stalled, and customers were understandably frustrated. These outages seem to be happening far too often. Yes, it’s 2025, but are our banking systems really ready for a fully digital future?
Not long ago, I was a customer of a high street bank. After years of in-person banking, staff encouraged me to “go digital” and use their app. I was reluctant. As someone who experiences anxiety and panic attacks, I find complex IT systems overwhelming. I’m over 57 – I wasn’t raised in the digital age.
Despite me sharing my concerns, the bank staff didn’t really listen. A sign on the wall said “Not all disabilities are visible”, yet this clearly didn’t apply to me. My local branch, which was always busy, was shut down – ATM and all. Another nearby branch followed suit. There was one left five miles away, but eventually even that became digital only.
When I visited and explained my situation, I was told bluntly that I couldn’t be helped – there were no counters any more. I didn’t need anything complicated. Just a basic, face-to-face banking service. Instead, I was simply dismissed. Invisible disabilities, it seems, were invisible to them too.
So I closed my account and went to another high street bank – only to be met with more unwelcome change. Gone was the polished wood floor and staffed counters. In their place: low, foam seats and whiteboards hiding the old counter space. It felt less like a bank and more like a waiting room.
These trendy seating areas? Not great if you’re elderly or disabled.
Still, I figured sitting here was better than trying to deal with a chatbot. Banks think chatbots are a great innovation, but they’re not yet smart enough to help with specific, real-world banking issues. I’ve tried. It’s frustrating. And I thought AI was supposed to solve problems?
There were only three staff members at the new branch, all run off their feet. When I asked about opening a new account, I was told I needed a smartphone. I declined and walked out.
If they still had real counters and six staff members, people might not mind standing in line. They’d actually get served.
Which brings me back to banking app outages – again. They’re frequent, disruptive, and a growing source of frustration. Yet I was told digital banking was “the future” and that I’d be left behind if I didn’t.
Tell that to the millions of customers now stuck in this digital mess. It’s a financial farce.
Call me a tech dinosaur, but I truly believe shutting down mass branches was one of the worst decisions banks ever made. Staff lost jobs. Customers lost peace of mind.
It all worked just fine – until the banks decided to “modernize”.
Yes, a few banking hubs have popped up. But most town-centre branches now sit empty, derelict, and forgotten. It’s a sad waste of once-useful community spaces.
Many thanks to SD for a thought-provoking (and clearly heart-felt) article.
I do agree that the so-called digital revolution has made life harder for many older people and those with disabilities. Yes, some have taken to banking apps and online banking without major issues. I have a friend in his eighties to whom I had to give a crash course after his wife (who previously handled all their finances) passed away. Despite my concerns he soon got the hang of it and uses his bank’s app like a professional now.
But plenty of older people do struggle, especially with apps and complicated online security systems. And clearly it doesn’t help if your memory and eyesight aren’t as good as they once were. I can understand why so many older folk yearn for times gone by, when you could speak to a real-life individual and they would help you with whatever issues you might be having.
But what do YOU think? Have the banks really abandoned older customers, or do we just need to accept change and “get with the programme”? I’d love to hear your views and experiences, as would SD!