Barclays to Shut 15 Branches in Latest Round of Closures
Yes, Barclays has announced that it will be closing 15 branches in the UK. The closures will take place in July 2023 and will affect branches in the following locations:
- Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex
- Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire
- Kidsgrove, Staffordshire
- Hedge End, Hampshire
- Eastleigh, Hampshire
- Wokingham, Berkshire
- Bognor Regis, West Sussex
- Prudhoe, Northumberland
- Haltwhistle, Northumberland
- St Ives, Cornwall
- Falmouth, Cornwall
Barclays says that the closures are being made because of a decline in customer usage of branches. The bank says that more and more customers are using online and mobile banking services, and that the branches that are being closed are no longer sustainable.
The closures have been met with criticism from some local community groups, who say that they will make it harder for people to access banking services. However, Barclays says that it will be working with customers who are affected by the closures to find alternative ways to bank.
The closures are the latest in a series of branch closures by UK banks. In recent years, many banks have been forced to close branches as customers move to online and mobile banking. This has led to concerns about the future of the high street, as banks are one of the main anchor tenants in many town centres.
It is unclear how many more branch closures will be announced by banks in the coming months. However, it is likely that the trend of branch closures will continue, as more and more customers move to online and mobile banking.
