HSBC closes its Walderslade branch today (Friday).

The bank announced earlier this year that it would be closing the branch due to the rise of internet banking.

Customers were sent letters or received a message on the HSBC banking app information them of the decision and their accounts would be transferred to the Maidstone branch.

Cllr David Brake, who represents Walderslade ward, is also an HSBC customer and has banked with the village branch since 1980.

He said he was inundated with phone calls from residents when the bank first announced the closure in May.

“Residents are still pretty cross but they realise it was inevitable,” Cllr Brake said.

“The number of people using the bank has been declining with the use of internet banking and with cash machines all over the Towns.

“It’s one of those things that we just have to accept but I am still not very happy about it and I have requested that my account is transferred to Chatham.

“I am a Medway person so I will support Medway, I never go into Maidstone.”

A HSBC spokesman said: “Unfortunately, with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years use of our Walderslade branch has fallen significantly and we’ve had to take the difficult decision to close it.

The latest closure follows the end of HSBC’s branches in Hempstead Valley Shopping Centre and Rainham. Other banks to close in recent years include Barclays in Rochester and Gillingham and NatWest in Hoo.