Barclays announces latest branch closure - leaving just one bank serving Meon Valley town Bishop's Waltham

Barclays has announced that it will close its branch in St George's Square, Bishop’s Waltham, on Friday, March 5, leaving just Lloyds bank serving the Meon Valley town.

A Barclays spokeswoman said: ‘The decision to close a branch is never an easy one. However, customers are increasingly using alternatives to branches to do their banking. As a result, we are seeing a sustained fall in branch visits across the UK.

‘This is reflected at the Bishop’s Waltham branch where there has been a 19 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2020. In addition, over four fifths (85 per cent) of our customers at the branch are also using different ways to bank.

‘We will work with our customers and provide alternative options to ensure they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.'

She said that fewer than 10 per cent of transactions now take place at this branch with 75 customers using the branch for banking.

Barclays also recently announced it will be closing its branch in Park Gate on February 5 and one in Burgess Road, Southampton on January 22.

All staff have been transferred to other roles.

The nearest Barclays branch will be at 1 Lower Northam Road, Hedge End, Southampton.

As previously reported in The News, many areas have been affected by bank branch closures in recent years.

Barclays closed its Stubbington branch in 2016, a few months after Natwest left the village. Lloyds Bank closed its Stubbington branch in October last year.

Lee-on-the-Solent no longer has a bank after HSBC closed.

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Natwest closed its branches in Leigh Park and Portchester.

Emsworth also lost four banks in little over a year, with Barclays, Lloyds and Nationwide closing, leaving only NatWest.

Fareham also lost TSB, which closed in August. TSB said it is also closing its branches in Hayling Island, Petersfield and Winchester next year.

Lloyds bank in The Square, Wickham, closed on November 3, and its branch in West Street, Portchester is earmarked for closure on March 31.

Nationwide Building Society is closing its North End and Southsea branches on December 17.

Earlier this year, Halifax announced that its branch in Palmerston Road in Southsea is set to go on March 25 as is its branch in Locks Heath, which will close on March 4.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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