The Lucknow Sentinel, 1983-04-13, Page 2news
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 13, 1983—Page 2
Lucknow businessmen say village can support two banks...
*from page 1
provide a need for another Bank in the
village. Farmers and business people should
have a choice.
Commenting on the poor customer service
at the Bank of Montreal in Lucknow, Becker
said that people in the cities are trained to
wait in line for 30 minutes at a bank but
people in rural communities will probably
never accept that. Banks should learn to put
on more tellers to serve their customers at
busy times of the day, even if it is inconven-
ient to the bank. Becker said his business
puts more' people on the counter to serve
people at their busy times of the year, and
the Banks should be willing to provide the
same efficient customer service.
Another Royal Bank customer, David
Hanna of Lucknow Farm Supply said he does
not want to bank out of town but if he must,
he will do business with which ever bank has
the most attractive offer.
A bank should have "personality" said
Hanna who appreciates the efficient fast
service at the Royal Bank branch in
Lucknow, where the tellers are friendly and
it is pleasant to do your banking business.
Hanna said he realizes nobody wants to
operate a business at a loss but he hopes the
profit margin wasn't the only consideration
in the Royal Bank decision toclose the
branch here.
Hanna said he has spoken with farmers
about the Royal Bank closure and they have
indicated they will not bank with the Bank of
Montreal, even if it is the only bank in town.
Hanna explains the farmers who feel this
way cited they are not willing to do business
with the Bank of Montreal because there is
no parking available on the main street, the
bank has closed their rear entrance and
customers find it inconvenient to use the
parking lot in the rear of the bank and they
refuse to wait in line for teller service.
Barry McDonagh of McDonagh Real
Estate and insurance is a satisfied Bank of
Montreal customer who believes the closure
of the Royal Bank branch will hurt the main
street businesses. McDonagh said people
who bank out of town will shop out of town.
McDonagh said he doesn't think the Royal
Bank gave the branch here a fair trial.
McDonagh said the branch should not be
closed because it isn't showing a profit.
Banks have realized some significant profit
increases during the high interest rate
period and they should be willing to give a
unit that isn't profitable a fair chance.
McDonagh pointed out that the Bank
hasn't been in the village for one generation
yet. Once a family starts banking with a
particular Bank, a loyalty is developed which
carries over to the next generation.
McDonagh points out that possibly the
choice of management personnel for the
bank may not have been suitable to the
needs of an agricultural community.
Grant Chisholm of Chisholm Fuels Ltd.
suggested the head office personnel for the
Royal Bank who made the decision to close
the Lucknow branch should have attended
the Lions Home and Garden Show over the
weekend. The success of the show and the
strength of the business community evident
at the show, indicate Lucknow can support
two banks. The village isn't ready to roll up
the main street yet, commented Chisholm,
who believes the community should register
Royal closes on July 8
•from page 1
branch in Lucknow has been unable to grow
and become profitable.
Sheppard said he has noticed that
customers are loyal to a bank in a rural
community and while that loyalty can be
looked upon with affection if it favours you,
the same people who complain about the
lineups at the Bank of Montreal in Lucknow
remain customers at that bank.
While two banks in Lucknow benefits the
consumer, it is not always the best thing for
business which can be spread too thinly.
Sheppard points out this may be true in
reference to the other Royal Bank branches
Higher profile...
•from page 1
Added to the estimated costs to Canadians
caused by alcohol related problems includ-
ing crime, social and health problems, are
S650 million a year in damages from traffic
accidents. The total cost to Canadians
created by problems caused by alcohol
amounts to S2 billion, 560 million.
in the area as well as the fact there is another
bank in the village.
Sheppard believes the Royal Bank in
Lucknow served its customers well while the
branch operated in the village.
He said he appreciates the Bank taking a
responsible corporate position in regard to
placement of staff. Reasonable alternate
employment will be offered to the five staff
members who must consider mobility when
taking another position.
The Lucknow manager said every possible
effort will be made to service customer
accounts at neighbouring branches and in
many cases it is geographically convenient
for the customer to bank with the Goderich,
Ripley or Kincardine branches of the Royal
Bank.
Sheppard said the Bank intends to sell the
building used by the branch in Lucknow but
no plans have been made at present. No
details regarding the future of the building
!lave been worked out. The first considera-
!ion, he said, is to find alternative employ-
lient opportunities for all the staff which is
)eing actively persued at this time.
Lucknow
Kinette Club
presents
"Fashions
Under
The Rainbou,"
Monday,
April 18th
8:00 p.m.
Lucknow
Community (;entre
Admission
Adults - •b.'"
Children - 12
and under - '1.°"
Cookies and coffee
will be served
Proceeds for Comnounify
Service work.
some kind of protest.
The opinion of village councillor Ab
Murray indicates the Royal Bank has not
actively canvassed the commercial or agri-
cultural business in the community, since
they conducted their first campaign for
business when the branch first opened.
Murray said they brought customers here
from other branches in the area and then sat
back and waited for people to switch from
the Bank of Montreal t& -'the Royal.
Murray who has dealt successfully with
the Bank of Montreal as long as he has
owned C & M Transport, says he has never
been approached by the Royal Bank to see if
they could do business.
Instead of petitioning the Royal Bank to
stay in the village, Murray would encourage
another bank to open a branch in town.
Murray also finds room to criticize the
personnel appointed by the Royal Bank to fill
their managerial positions, over the years
the bank has operated a Lucknow branch.
Murray said the managers at the Royal
branch have never been knowledgeable
about the agricultural community they serve
nor were they interested in becoming active
in the community.
The agricultural community in the Luck -
now area is still waiting for the Royal Bank to
show them what it can do for them, observed
Murray.
Village council just recently purchased a
lot adjacent to the Liquor Store which is
situated next to the Royal Bank, in the hope
of locating future commercial development
along Willoughby Street.
Murray said the loss of the Royal Bank is a
blow to the future of the commercial
development in the village.
Competes in effective speaking final
Rick Martin of Lucknow will advance to
the Lions Effective Speaking Competition to
be held in Quebec City the last weekend of
April.
A student at F. E. Madill Secondary in
Wingham and the son of Mr. . nd Mrs.
Austin Martin of Lucknow, Rick will compete
against finalists from Ontario, Quebec and
Labrador.
Representing the Lucknow Lions Club,
Rick's expenses will be paid by the local club
and members will accompany him to the
competition.
All contestants will be entertained at a get
acquainted dance Friday night. The speech-
es will be held Saturday, followed by an
awards banquet Saturday night. Two
English speaking winners, a boy and a girl
and two French speaking winners4 a boy and
a girl will be chosen winners.
To qualify for the finals in Quebec, Rick
won the local Lions Effective Speaking
Contest February 22 at the regular Wingham
Lions Club meeting. Linda McInnis, daugh-
ter of Mr. and Mrs. William McInnis of
Teeswater placed first in the girls division.
Linda and Rick also won at the Lions
Region 3N competition held March 15 in
Ripley at the Ripley District School in a class
of winners and runnersup from local club
competitions.
Rick went on to win at the District A9
Effective Speaking Competition held at F. E.
Madill Secondary on April 7. He competed
against winners and runnersup from three
Lions International regions.
Rick Martin
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