UPDATE: 2.46pm.

Blaenau Gwent MP, Nick Smith, has released a statement.

“This is a blow to local people and businesses and I will be writing to the banks’ Welsh directors to seek further details on this proposal," he said.

“While lots of people bank online these days, face-to-face contact is important for good business, personal service and big decisions for local people borrowing to  establish a small business or getting a mortgage.”

Monmouth MP, David Davies also responded to the news.

He said: "It is difficult for people, especially in rural areas like Monmouth.

"It will have a massive impact on older people in rural areas. It will be extremely difficult for them to go elsewhere.”

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UPDATE 1.40pm.

A joint statement has been released by Torfaen's MP Nick Thomas-Symonds and Lynne Neagle AM.

"We are very disappointed to hear that NatWest have announced the closure of the Pontypool branch on 12th October 2017.

"We appreciate that the nature of banking is changing, and that increasing numbers of people use online and mobile banking, but many people still rely on over-the-counter services.

"It is absolutely vital that NatWest minimises the disruption to customers and that the widest possible variety of banking services for NatWest customers are made available at the nearby Pontypool Post Office.

"We will be writing to NatWest to request a meeting to discuss these matters as soon as possible."

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A UK-WIDE banking group has announced plans to close three Gwent branches, putting seven jobs at risk.

An official statement by Natwest, revealed that branches in Monmouth, Ebbw Vale and Pontypool will close in October this year.

Two jobs are under threat at both Monmouth and Pontypool's branches and three could be lost at Ebbw Vale’s branch.

Natwest have stated that some branch staff could be redeployed to other sites, with others potentially being offered voluntary redundancy.

The bank cites the closures to the increase in mobile and online transactions between 2010 and 2015, with a 1,350 per cent increase in mobile transactions.

Natwest state Monmouth's branch has seen a 37 per cent decline in transactions since 2011, with Ebbw Vale facing a 21 per cent decline and Pontypool, a 42 per cent decline, over the same period.

The bank added that a majority of customers use digital banking options including a 58.9 per cent figure in Monmouth and 58.2 per cent figure in both Ebbw Vale and Pontypool.

A Natwest spokesman said: “We have listened closely to feedback from local communities and have extended the time between announcing our decision and the branch closures to six months.

“This has been done in order to ensure our customers have time to consider the right banking options for them.”

Natwest have also announced several schemes to aid customers through the transition, including a ‘Community Banker’ who will serve the local area, providing advice and support.

A “specialist taskforce of TechXperts” will also be “dedicated to supporting customers with training and support with digital skills.”

Natwest’s Monmouth’s branch will close on October 3, Ebbw Vale’s branch will close on October 9 and Pontypool’s branch will close its doors on October 12.