A BANK is cutting its hours at its Ledbury and Ross-on-Wye branches.

The hours at the two Natwest banks are currently 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday, with a slightly later start at 9.30am on a Wednesday, and they are open every Saturday from 9am to 12.30pm.

But from August 1 they will be closed on Saturdays and only open 10am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

The bank said it had made the decision due to the amount of customers using alternative methods, such as online and mobile banking.

They said only 9 percent of transactions are now undertaken in branches compared to 25 percent in 2010.

But they made it clear that branches remain an important part of their service.

They have reached an agreement with local post offices near to the Ledbury and Ross branches that Natwest customers can pay money in, take money out, check their balance and get business coinage.