Bank branch cull in 'lull before the storm' Banks would prefer customers to use the internet - and occasionally a call centre - which is far cheaper to service. However, this risks leaving elderly and less mobile people who live in rural communities deprived of vital services. The Campaign for Community Banking Services said 887 communities rely on just one branch, while 444 are serviced by two. It warned the rate of closures is due to accelerate. Derek French, founder of the national group, said: "After the banking crisis branch closures only really began again 2009. We think the current situation in the UK is the lull before the storm as the chiefs are making noises about a whole new approach to the network. RBS/NatWest and HSBC paused closure programmes this year, while Lloyds Banking Group has promised to keep its branch numbers the same only until February 2015. This excludes the 632 being transferred to the new TSB brand under EU rules. Mr French referred to statements made to investors by RBS/NatWest and Barclays over the past two months, which talk of plans to "create a technology driven franchise," "sharpen focus on costs" and " increase self-service technology." The British Bankers Association (BBA) is due to publish an updated data on the bank network this month. Between 2008 and 2011, HSBC closed 181 branches, NatWest 135 and Barclays 99. The BBA update figures should include a further 68 by HSBC in 2012, 60 shut by RBS/NatWest in the first half of this year and 30 by Barclays. HSBC has announced another 25 closures are in the pipeline. A spokesman for HSBC said it is focusing on providing banking services through post offices. "We continue to review our network on the basis of customer usage, investing in it where we feel we can improve it and bring more customers in, but ultimately closing a branch as the last resort," the spokesman said. Some 95pc of all personal current accounts are accessible at post office counters for withdrawals. Some allow customers to pay in. Mr French called for an even more flexible approach, with post offices themselves facing widespread closures in recent years. He said: "We need branch sharing-community banks and banking centres. This is a solution, proven in the US, which would solve the cost problems of the banks and the service problems of customers. It is time the government woke up to what the banks are doing to communities and press them to try it.