Adios Santander. I know I'm not alone in feeling betrayed on learning of Santander's intention to close local agencies in Lydney and Coleford. All together they plan to close 139 agencies across the country with consequent job losses.

Only today, I was reading about their community commitment which includes such things as scholarships at Northampton University and their social enterprise development awards, SEDA. Cold comfort for those who will lose their jobs.

For the abandoned customer, it's not even possible to use the services of the Post Office unless your account happens to be one of those transferred from Alliance and Leicester.  I tried it today at our new Post Office in Parkend.

The Post Office on its website states clearly that withdrawals from and deposits to Santander accounts are both supported.

The Royal Society of Arts has recently produced a report which calls for local post offices to take on the role of community enterprise hubs, but without the basics like access to banking services it won't be of local value.

A little joined up thinking between the Post Office and Santander could go a long way.

– Let down, Parkend.