Barclays defend decision to shut Weymouth branch

They say customer's banking habits have changed

Author: Maria GreenwoodPublished 8th Dec 2022
Last updated 8th Dec 2022

Barclays Bank has been defending why it's closing its Weymouth Branch.

It's been announced the St Mary Street branch will shut at 12pm on Friday 3rd March, 2023.

They say when the branch first opened people were visiting in person.

Now they say lots of their customers are choosing to bank using their app, online or with Telephone Banking.

They say:

88% of people who use our branch have also banked using the app, online and by phone in 2021.

68 customers use this branch regularly as the only way to do their banking

23% of this branch’s customers have used nearby branches in the last 12 months

A spokesperson for Barclays said:

"We’ll be working with the local community to understand the impact of closing this branch.

"Once we’ve gathered feedback, we’ll publish the results in a booklet called ‘Branch closure feedback’, which you can get from your branch or online at home.barclays/ukbranchclosures

“Our customers’ behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking.

"This is reflected at Weymouth branch, and as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.”

“In Weymouth we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel.

"We are currently working with the local community to identify a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed.”

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