A major bank with 1,500 branches will be closing more locations tomorrow as they disappear from the high street for good. Barclays is pulling the plug on three of its branches on Friday, September 8.
Bank closures signal move towards online services
The closures come as big banks look to move more of their services online. Data from the UK's largest cash machine network, LINK, keeps track of any planned branch closures across the UK.
Barclays branches closing tomorrow
The three locations closing in the UK tomorrow are:
- Barclays, St Ives – September 8
- Barclays, St Andrews – September 8
- Barclays, Haverhill – September 8
Other closures this month
It comes as a number of banks are set to close their branch doors for the final time this month. Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds, and Halifax are among those impacted across locations such as London, Suffolk, and Newcastle.
Barclays closed four branches earlier this week (September 5). The locations of these included:
- HSBC, Settle – September 5
- HSBC, Epworth – September 5
- HSBC, Holsworthy – September 5
- HSBC, Hythe – September 5
Santander shut three of its banks yesterday (September 6), which were:
- Santander, Midsummer Place, Milton Keynes – September 6
- Santander, Grafton Gate East, Milton Keynes – September 6
- Barclays, Finchley Road, London – September 6
Meanwhile, Barclays pulled down the shutters on four of its banks for the final time on September 1. It has already announced more nearly 70 closures this year.
High street stores also disappearing
Banks aren't the only ones disappearing from the high street. Dozens of Wilko stores will close after the business went bust. Administrator PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has confirmed a total of 52 shops will close their doors by the end of September 14. Twenty-four branches will close on September 12 while a further 28 will shut for good on September 14.
DIY giant Homebase is also pulling the plug on its shop at the O2 Centre on Finchley Road, London. The official closing date for this Homebase branch is December 10 this year. It comes after the retailer announced it would be shutting down a South Wales shop this month.
Impact of online shopping and rising costs
The high street has been hit hard in recent years due to the growth of online shopping, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, the cost of living has been rising, leading to shoppers cutting back on non-essential spending. Brick and mortar stores have also seen a lack of footfall due to consumer habits switching to online shopping.
What to do if your local branch closes
While the vast majority of banking customers are moving online, branches closing can leave some in the dark. Many elderly people, particularly those in rural areas, rely on physical branches to carry out day-to-day tasks.
However, if you've been left stuck by a recent bank branch closure in your local area, you have some options. You can carry out most basic banking tasks at the Post Office. You won't be able to apply for a loan or open a new bank account at one though.
Many banks offer a mobile banking service – where your bank brings a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at your bank. You should get in touch with your bank who will be able to tell you if they offer such a service and when it is next in your area.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services. Again, contact your bank to see what they might be able to do for you.
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