Despite what some say, closing branches is not in customers' interests in the slightest. Neither, in my opinion, is contactless which I also refuse to use or accept a contactless card but that is another subject.
But your opinion is one that is dwindling.
I guess you're over 45?
That means you're one of a dwindling number of customers that don't want to embrance new technology and thus, you
will be left behind.
Banks need to be "with the times" to attract new (young) customers. I'd be surprised if anyone under the age of 16 even knows what a cheque is!
Contactless is changing peoples lives.
Worried about people "skimming" your card? There's solutions:
1) If it was happening all the time, there would be reports in the papers all the time - you'd hear reports from friends/facebook, hell even on here. But you don't, because it simply doesn't seem to happen on a wide scale.
2) If it wasn't you, the bank will refund you. The bank can look into who took the money/what account. If it's unusual, it's all on the bank to sort out.
3) Get an account like Monzo or Starling. Any time any money is taken, it'll notify you straight away. The other "high street" banks will catch up with this, but they're all busy implimenting being able to freeze your card into their apps.