Update: Historic downtown RBC branch closing

The downtown Vernon RBC branch has been clearing checks and handing out cash since 1905, but come September the branch will be closing.

On a note posted to the door, the branch says they will be closing their doors as of September 13, 2019.

Clients at the bank are being asked to go to the Polson Place Branch located at 2306 Highway 6, Unit 300 once the branch closes in September.

The RBC branch on 30th ave has been serving people since 1905 but come September 13th it will be moving to 2306 Hwy 6 #vernonbc pic.twitter.com/zCj2Tu0EOa

— Vernon Matters (@VernonMattersca) May 6, 2019

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The news came as a shock to some long time clients of the historic RBC branch

” That shouldn’t be but what can you do? ”

” I don’t like going into Polson, I have a hard time getting out of there, the traffic around there and the way it comes out,” said client Mark Isida.

Pam Shaw, RBC Regional Vice President for the Okanagan and Kootenay region says the decision to close the downtown location was a difficult one.

“This is not something we ever take lightly, a lot of thought goes into this decision on whether to consolidate a branch or close a branch,” says Shaw.

She says the decision to close had a lot to do with a lack of customers.

” Our Vernon main branch has had declining client transactions. Less and less people are going in there. In fact 65% of the clients actually already bank at the other two locations.”

No jobs are expected to be lost as a result of the consolidation, according the RBC.

The banking institution says they are focusing on improving their Polson branch in order to accommodate more staff members and clients.

A major renovation is planned for the Polson RBC branch from May 31- June 24.

The bank will be closed, but RBC says a trailer will be on site in order for people to access services

Banking for downtown seniors

RBC says they are working on ways to make banking more accessible for seniors in the downtown area who may not be able to make it to the other two branch locations.

” We are going to try to get out to the senior’s centers and do events with them and kind of bring the bank to them,” says Shaw.

The service will be a lot like a regular bank, except without cash on site.

” We can look at everything. We can pay their bills on site, we can pull their statements, we can look after their investments, we can look at pretty much a lot, ” says Shaw.

No location or date for the service has been selected as of yet, but RBC says they are hoping to begin before the downtown location closes.