Wells Fargo to Close Branch in Ventura

Wells Fargo announced Tuesday that it is closing its downtown Ventura branch--the fifth branch closure in the county since April 12.

The branch, on Chestnut and Santa Clara streets, is slated to close Aug. 23. Customers will receive letters referring them to other branches.

A branch in Santa Paula and one in Moorpark closed May 10, and Fillmore and Camarillo branches closed April 12.

Wells Fargo is replacing traditional branches with supermarket branches, said Wells Fargo spokeswoman Kathleen Shilkret.

The supermarket branches, which have been contracted through Von’s, Albertson’s and Ralph’s markets, will have either scaled-down versions of a full-service branch or an ATM machine and a customer service representative.

“In essence, we’re offering a lot more points of service than we did with just the traditional branches,” said Shilkret, adding that supermarket branches are open seven days a week.

Not all Wells Fargo customers, however, see the closing of their bank as a plus.

Many said they find the downtown location convenient and easily accessible during the lunch hour. Others said they are contemplating closing their accounts.

“It stinks,” said Marcos Sepulveda. “I’ve been here four years and I’m used to coming to this branch. It’s more convenient for me. I don’t want to go to Von’s.”

But there is a much bigger world from which to recruit customers in a supermarket, Shilkret said.

The downtown Wells Fargo is referring its customers to the Von’s Supermarket on Main Street, off Ventura Boulevard or to branches on Mills Road or Telephone Road.

Some of the employees at the Chestnut Street branch will be laid off and others will transfer to other branches, Shilkret said.