KNUTSFORD is starting to look like 'a banking ghost town'.

So says town councillor Jonathan Farber, following today's announcement that the town's Princess Street branch of Santander is to close.

Cllr Farber, who is a Santander customer, said: "Today's announcement that the Princess Street branch of Santander is to close shows a blatant disregard for its loyal local customers needs.

"Granted, banking habits have changed globally, but Knutsford's older more 'hands-on' generation still want to walk into a branch and speak to a human being.

"I urge Santander to look again at the user base in Knutsford and recognise that there is a real need for a counter service.

"With the loss of the Halifax, the RBS and now Santander, Knutsford is beginning to look like a banking ghost town.

"Perhaps a more customer-focused bank such as MetroBank should look to capitalise on this exodus and give the town what it needs; help, support and human contact."

The Knutsford branch of Santander is due to close on June 6, one of 140 Santander branches due to shut.

Santander today announced plans to 'reshape its branch network' and close 140 branches 'in response to changes in how customers are choosing to carry out their banking'.

Knutsford resident Roberta Adams, 73, also a Santander customer, told the Guardian she was 'devastated' by news of the branch closure.

Mrs Adams said she didn't like to drive outside Knutsford, but faced driving to Northwich or Wilmslow to visit the nearest Santander branch if the Knutsford branch closed.

"When I heard the news of the branch closures on the news I was hoping Knutsford wasn't one of them, so I phoned the branch to be told it was due to shut," she said.

"The staff there are lovely, and have always been very helpful. I am not online, and was devastated to hear the branch was closing because it was handy if you wanted to go in.

"I feel sorry for people older than me who need to call in at a branch for help and assistance."

Santander said: "Santander’s future branch network will be made up of a combination of larger branches, offering improved community facilities to support local businesses and customers, and smaller branches using the latest technology to offer customers more convenient access to banking services.

"Santander has consulted its trade unions on the proposed changes and will seek to find alternative roles for the 1,270 colleagues affected wherever possible.

"Santander expects to be able to redeploy around a third of those affected, and will be closely supporting colleagues over the coming weeks as the consultation process continues.

"Santander will support customers of closing branches to find other ways to bank that best suit their needs, including individual help to find alternative Santander branches and access digital, telephone and Post Office banking services.

"Santander will retain a nationwide network of 614 branches following the proposed changes. All Santander current and business account holders can also bank using one of over 11,000 Post Office branches across the UK.

"In order to deliver a branch network for the future, 100 Santander branches will be refurbished over the next two years through an investment of £55 million.

"The refurbishments will include a range of changes with a focus on personal service, convenience and community engagement.

"The number of transactions carried out via Santander branches has fallen by 23% over the past three years, while transactions via digital channels have grown by 99% over the same period.

Susan Allen, Head of Retail and Business Banking, said: "The way our customers are choosing to bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with more and more customers using online and mobile channels.

"As a result, we have had to take some very difficult decisions over our less visited branches, and those where we have other branches in close proximity.

"We will support customers of closing branches to find alternative ways to bank with us that best suit their individual needs.

"We are also working alongside our unions to support colleagues through these changes and to find alternative roles for those impacted wherever possible."

"We continue to believe that branches have a vital role to play and we will be refurbishing 100 of our branches over the next two years.

"We are confident that following these changes we will have the right branch network to serve our customers’ changing needs, and we expect the size of our network to remain stable for the foreseeable future."