Barclays promises to keep over 100 bank branches in remote areas open until October 2021
BARCLAYS has promised not to close over 100 bank branches in remote areas or where it's the last bank in town for the next two years.
The bank is also launching a new cashback scheme allowing people to withdraw money at small businesses in areas without a branch or ATM within 1km.
The scheme will launch in 200 locations from January 2020, but it couldn't clarify an exact date when contacted by The Sun.
But from January 8 the same year, Barclays customers will no longer be able to withdraw cash over the counter at Post Office branches.
Customers will still be able to deposit cash and cheques and check their bank balances, while cash withdrawals by cheque are subject to arrangement.
The news is a blow to those who rely on the Post Office for access to their cash, said Helen Saxon, banking editor at MoneySavingExpert.
If you're affected, you can always "vote with your feet" and move your account to one of the banks that let you use the Post Office, she added.
The Post Office, which has around 11,500 branches, offers banking services on behalf of 28 banks.
The bank branches Barclays will keep open
HERE'S the full list of the Barclays branches that will remain open until at least October 2021.
Barclays last in town branches:
- Alderley Edge
- Bargoed
- Barnard Castle
- Barnoldswick
- Biggin Hill
- Bilbrook
- Builth Wells
- Burnham-on-Crouch
- Cadishead
- Carnforth
- Chalfont St Peter
- Cockermouth
- Cuffley
- Drayton, Norwich
- Dunmow
- Esher
- Flitwick
- Guiseley
- Haxby
- Hemsworth
- Heywood
- Histon
- Holmes Chapel
- Hoyland, Nether
- Kidsgrove
- Knowle
- Llandeilo
- Pickering
- Radlett
- Risca
- Saltburn-by-the-Sea
- Shenfield
- South Woodham Ferrers
- Southwick
- St Ives
- Tredegar
- Treorchy
- Wadebridge
- Watton
- West Mersea
- Whickham
- Woburn Sands
- Wombourne
- Wroxham
- Yarm
- Ystrad Mynach
- Manningtree
- Llangollen
- Bentham
- Keswick
- Harleston
- Southwold
- Bedale
- Leyburn
- Framlingham
- Oundle
- Kirkby Stephen
- Seahouses
- Leiston
- Haltwhistle
- Stanhope
- Middleton-in-Teesdale
Barclays remote branches:
- Bideford
- Brecon
- Brigg
- Caernarfon
- Camborne
- Chipping Norton
- Cranleigh
- Daventry
- Deal
- Devizes
- Driffield
- Easingwold
- Falmouth
- Gainsborough
- Heathfield
- Helmsley
- Helston
- Horncastle
- Kirkby Lonsdale
- Lampeter
- Launceston
- Leek
- Malton
- Market Drayton
- Mildenhall
- Monmouth
- Pocklington
- Porthmadog
- Prudhoe
- Pwllheli
- Richmond, North Yorkshire
- Settle
- Shaftesbury
- Sheerness
- Sleaford
- Stow-on-the-Wold
- Tenby
- Thirsk
- Towcester
- Ulverston
- Welshpool
- Whitby
- Workington
Barclays said it's also looking to boost demand in branches generally, starting with pilots in 12 areas including Pickering and Yarm in Yorkshire, Wombourne in Staffordshire and Risca in South Wales.
Part of the trial includes flexible branch opening hours and making technology available to extend services such as video banking.
Pop-up banking facilities will also appear at 300 locations by the end of 2021, Barclays added.
Adam Rowse, managing director of branch-based banking at Barclays, told the PA news agency: "New technology allows even the smallest branch to become a full-service branch.
"We use video technology so our specialists across the country can help people with buying a home or starting a business or borrowing through a business or needing help or advice."
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The news comes as a third of bank branches have closed in just over four years while hundreds slashed their opening times.
It follows claims by experts that mobile banking will overtake the use of high street branches by 2021.
Data in May revealed that 1,700 previously free-to-use cash machines began charging users in the first three months of the year.
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