Building society in Harborough is urging customers – please stay away

A building society in Market Harborough is urging customers – please stay away.

The Nationwide on the High Street is appealing to people to go online or use their banking app.

The busy outlet has also cut its opening hours.

The Harborough branch will be open from 10am-2pm on Thursday and Friday this week - as well as Monday and Tuesday next week - and 9am-12midday on Saturday.

The Nationwide is making its heartfelt plea to stay at home as the coronavirus lockdown will stretch well into next month at least.

A Nationwide Building Society spokesman said: “The government’s latest advice around social distancing and the need to protect the most vulnerable in our society by asking them to stay at home means we need to change the branch services we offer.

“The core hours in our branches will be reducing from Tuesday 24 March.

“We are only offering basic day-to-day banking services and we may need to temporarily close branches at short notice, so please check the latest on our branch finder before you travel.”

The Nationwide advised worried customers to go to their coronavirus support page for a summary of services and support being offered online.

The Nationwide is also telling people not to ring after being inundated with calls.

“We’re getting many more calls and messages than usual which is making it so hard to answer or respond to people quickly.

“To ensure we can help those with the most immediate financial need, please only get in touch if it’s absolutely essential.

“And please don’t visit us in branch if you or someone in your household has a new and continuous cough or a high temperature.

“This is so important if we are to protect our NHS and save lives.”