article_snippet: Residents of rural communities could be forced to travel miles to Residents of rural communities nearest bank after the biggest lenders refused to commit to never shut the ‘last bank in town’.
article_snippet: After months of negotiation, the Government failed to secure the crucial agreement to protect customers, as bank bosses justify branch closures by stressing the soaring popularity of online banking.
article_snippet: As The High street banks refuse to commit to never closing 'the last bank in town', bosses justify branch closures by stressing the soaring popularity of online banking .
article_snippet: But critics say critics do not go far enough and will allow lenders to shut hundreds of branches across the country – even when there is no other bank in the community.
article_snippet: Efforts by Business secretary Vince Cable to force banks to reinstate this commitment have been rejected and experts have warned that 978 branches around the country are now at risk.
article_snippet: Derek French from the Campaign for Community Banking said efforts by the coalition to beef up protection for consumers have failed.
article_snippet: The bosses of all the major banks have justified the closure of branches by stressing the soaring popularity of digital banking – both online and on smart phones.
article_snippet: The bosses of all the major banks have also argued it is not viable to keep certain branches open because so few customers use certain branches.
highlights_snippet: Biggest lenders refused to commit to never shut ‘last bank in town’
  
highlights_snippet: Bank bosses are blaming branch closures on online banking .
  