Community Uproar Grows Over RBC’s Sargent Avenue Branch Closure
You know, something happened this week that really struck a nerve in our neighbourhood — and I feel like it needs to be talked about. I’m talking about the decision by RBC to shut down its Sargent Avenue branch here in Winnipeg's West End. This isn’t just another business making a corporate decision — this is a major disruption to the lives of everyday people who rely on that branch for their banking, their financial planning, and frankly, for a sense of community.
People are angry, and they’re not staying silent. There was a protest — and rightfully so — because this closure feels like yet another blow to an area already feeling squeezed. Residents are worried, and honestly, I am too. When a bank closes in a working-class neighbourhood like ours, it’s not just about convenience — it’s about access. It’s about stability. And when that’s taken away, especially from seniors, newcomers, and people without easy access to digital banking, we’re left asking: where do we go from here?
Think about it — some of the folks who came out to protest don’t even have internet access or smartphones. They rely on face-to-face interactions with people who know their name. This branch wasn’t just a building — it was a relationship. It’s where people cashed their cheques, paid bills, got advice, or just felt seen. Now, they’re being told to travel further or switch to online services — which just doesn’t work for everyone.
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And it’s not just about our own neighbourhood either. This closure is part of a wider trend. We’re seeing more and more financial institutions pulling out of lower-income or culturally diverse communities, creating what some people call a “banking desert.” Once this branch closes, what’s left? An ATM? Maybe. But you can’t talk to an ATM. You can’t ask it about a loan, or help your elderly mom sort out a pension issue.
It’s frustrating, because we see investment going into wealthier parts of the city while neighbourhoods like ours are left behind. It sends a clear message: we don’t matter as much. But guess what? We do matter. That’s why people are standing up and speaking out.
If RBC truly wants to support communities, then they need to listen — really listen — to what we’re saying. We need accessible banking, not automated emails. We need a presence, not a promise that everything will be fine if we just learn to “go digital.” Because the reality is, not everyone can.
So yes, this is about a bank. But it’s also about dignity, about inclusion, and about who gets left behind when decisions are made in boardrooms instead of on street corners like Sargent Avenue.
We deserve better — and we’re not going to stop saying it.
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