BARCLAYS CLOSING ONE OF ITS LAST 2 BANKS IN CITY
Decision blamed on falling counter transactions
FINANCIAL giant Barclays is shutting one of its two last-remaining Stoke-ontrent branches.
The closure of the Longton branch on Friday, August 19 will leave just Hanley with a Barclays bank. Customers have been informed in a letter.
It follows a six per cent drop in transactions at The Strand branch in the past two years – with just 82 customers exclusively relying on the branch for their banking.
Now affected customers are being directed to alternative branches in Hanley and Newcastle.
There remains a freeto-use cash machine at Lloyds, on The Strand, and a post office on the nearby Bennett Precinct.
Barclays customer David Green, aged 47, from Longton, said: “It’s inconvenient for me because I will have to go up to Hanley and travel five extra miles. I will struggle to park there too.”
Fellow customer Ann Higgins, aged 75, from
Longton, said: “I’m not very happy about it. I don’t do online banking – I prefer to do things face-to-face.
“It has always been a bank and the staff are always helpful and all very nice. I will have to draw money out at the post office.”
The demise of the branch follows the previous closure of Barclays banks in Burslem, Tunstall and Stoke.
A spokesman 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 visits across the UK.
“This is reflected at the Longton branch where there has been a six per cent reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2020.
“In addition, 86 per cent of our customers at the branch are also using different ways to bank.
“We will work with our customers and provide alternatives to ensure that they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.”