Banks are disappearing from more and more municipalities: “A drama for my parents”

Until recently, there were two banks in Damberdstraat, in the heart of Moorsele. One bank has now been boarded up and is for sale, the last has a letter. It will also soon no longer be possible to withdraw money there. “It’s a drama for my parents,” says Hugo, who takes care of his parents. “If they have to make a payment, they will have to go to Gullegem now.”

“Everything Closes”

“I always come here. Moorsele has nothing left. They get rid of everything, everything closes,” responds Kathy, also a resident of Moorsele. Moorsele has more than 6,000 inhabitants and is one of the many somewhat aging villages in West Flanders.

“The closure of the banks is a phenomenon”, says alderman of the local economy Kevin Defieuw. “It is common knowledge. The service sector is moving away from the smaller centers. As a municipal council, we have informed all the major banks to point out the precarious situation. At the same time, we also have an appointment with Batopin, the system of bank-neutral ATMs.”

To provide such a machine in the service center, it will cost the municipality 20,000 euros.