‘Only 13 customers rely on Welshpool branch exclusively’ Barclays claim

Barclays Bank has explained that footfall in its Welshpool branch had fallen by 52% prior to the pandemic as it faces a fierce backlash for announcing its closure, along with Newtown’s, yesterday.

The banking giant confirmed its departure in emails to local politicians, with a spokesperson telling us this morning that “the decision to close a branch is never an easy one” with an extraordinary claim that only 13 Welshpool customers use the branch exclusively for their banking and do not interact with them in other ways.

The closures end the bank’s long association with Montgomeryshire with customers told to use the branch in Oswestry if they can’t do their banking through the Post Office counter in town.

“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,” the spokesperson told us, adding there are no compulsory redundancies as a result of the closures.

“This is reflected at the Welshpool and Newtown branches where there has been a 52% and 49% reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2020.

“In addition, 88% of our Welshpool customers and 87% of Newtown customers 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. This includes working with the local community to find different, more flexible ways for our colleagues to continue to provide local banking support, such as through pop-up presences.”

Welshpool’s branch will close on Friday, September 16, while Newtown will follow a week later.

The bank said that customers have a wide range of options to complete their banking including the Barclays app, Telephone Banking, Online Banking and Video Banking, while everyday transactions can be completed at any Post Office with the closest located at 31 Broad Street, Welshpool. Customers will be able to use the ATM at Lloyds Bank for free.

In additional footnotes, the bank said that ‘in total, 13 regular Welshpool customers and 30 Newtown customers use these branches exclusively for their banking and do not interact with us in other ways’.

It added that fewer than 10% of transactions are now taking place inside a branch and would be offering virtual ‘tea and teach’ sessions for customers wishing to explore digital banking and other alternatives to branch based banking.