NatWest in Rochester High Street is to close next June leaving just one bank in the High Street.

Staff have been informed by the Royal Bank of Scotland it will shut on June 13 2017.

The decision has angered Rochester and Strood MP Kelly Tolhurst who has started a campaign to keep it open.

The only other bank is Lloyds in the middle of the town.

A spokesman for RBS said the “difficult decision” was made after a survey revealed a significant drop in customers using the counter service and an increase in online banking.

He said: “Our world is changing rapidly, with people relying more and more on technology in all aspects of their life. Shopping and booking a holiday online has become the norm for many; banking is no different and many of our customers are looking for and using more convenient ways to bank.

“The way people choose to bank with us has changed radically over the last few years. Between 2010 and 2015, mobile and online transactions have increased by over 400% and mobile transactions alone have increased by 1,350%.

“As a result of this change, we have seen the number of transactions in the Rochester branch decline by 42% since 2011; 59% of its customers are actively choosing to use our digital banking options.

Miss Tolhurst, a customer of the Rochester branch, said she was “extremely disappointed” at the decision.

She said: “While I appreciate that our banking needs are changing and more and more on technology in all aspects of their life, however I find it unacceptable that a town like Rochester will be left with only a single bank on the High Street.

“The closure of branches has been a disappointing trend in Rochester over recent years and we are now close to a point where residents and businesses face access issues. Yet, Rochester’s High Street is still an attraction for commercial activity despite the reduction of in-branch transactions.”

Miss Tolhurst added that with the prospect of almost 30,000 new homes across Medway by 2035, the closure was short-sighted.

She said: “ As a user of the High Street NatWest branch I know very well how much some local businesses rely upon it for their end of week cashing up. This is why it is important that such decisions are first consulted upon with local businesses and residents.

“I will be actively campaigning against the closure and have written to the chief executives of NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland, as well as the responsible Treasury minister, Simon Kirby MP. Again, it is unacceptable a main regional centre such as Rochester will be left with a single bank branch and I will not be letting this go.”

RBS said a team of digital experts will be set up to support customers who are not comfortable and familiar with using online or mobile banking.