West Malling is to lose its last remaining bank.

NatWest has announced it will be closing its branch in Swan Street no later than April 7 next year.

The bank said the closure was the result of the huge shift by its customers to online banking.

It said: "With fewer people going into the branch, we've had to make some really tough choices."

Acknowledging that some customers were not online, NatWest promised they would still be able to speak to a staff member by telephone.

The nearest alternative NatWest branch is 1.7 miles away in London Road, Larkfield.

Alternatively, customers can use the ATM at Tescos in the High Street, or for more general banking services there is the Post Office in Swan Street.

There is a still a branch of the Nationwide Building Society in the High Street, but that is only open Monday to Friday and closes at 2pm every day.

One question that arises is what will happen to the NatWest building?

Like many in West Malling, it is an historic property, dating from the 18th century, though it was remodelled in the 19th century and had to be restored in the 20th century after a fire.

The listed building still retain a stuccoed facade, a mansard slate roof, end pilasters with stone urns above, and a Tuscan doorcase, flanked with stone columns.

Dr Samuel Johnson, who compiled the first English dictionary, was friends with the owner of the building then known as Brooke House when it was private home in the 1700s and he made frequent visits there.

The news comes as TSB announced it would close 70 branches next year, including Tunbridge Wells, Maidstone and Gillingham.