Barclays to close last remaining banks in north Powys

The branches in Newtown and Welshpool are shutting down because customers were using them less often.

Barclays has today (Thursday) announced that it will be closing its branches in Welshpool on September 16 and Newtown on September 23, adding that the decision "is never an easy one".

The bank said in total 13 regular Welshpool customers and 30 Newtown customers "use this branch exclusively for their banking and do not interact with us in other ways".

Montgomeryshire MP Craig Williams said he is "incredibly disappointed" about Barclays' decision to close the branches and is seeking urgent assurances that its banking services will be protected for its customers.

"This decision will mean that Barclays will now have no physical footprint in Montgomeryshire, which is an enormous blow to staff and customers of both branches, as well as the constituency as a whole," Mr Williams said.

Russell George MS said he will be querying the data provided by Barclays' reasoning for closing the banks "as I know many people use both banks".

''Another bank branch closure will not only have a detrimental impact on the bank's loyal staff and customers, especially those who are elderly and vulnerable, but it will also have implications for the local business community, for Welshpool and Newtown as towns and the wider area, and for the reputation of Barclays."

List of banks in Powys

• Lloyds Bank – Newtown, Welshpool, Llandrindod Wells, Presteigne and Brecon
• Nationwide – Newtown
• Santander – Newtown and Brecon
• NatWest – Newtown and Brecon
• HSBC - Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon
• Barclays - Newtown (closes September 23), Welshpool (closes September 16), Builth Wells and Brecon

Barclays branch in Broad Street, Newtown.

Barclays branch in Broad Street, Welshpool

What has Barclays said?

“The decision to close a branch is never an easy one," a Barclays spokesperson said.

"However, 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.

“This is reflected at the Welshpool and Newtown branch where there has been a 52 per cent and 49 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2020. In addition, 88 per cent of our Welshpool customers and 87 per cent 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.”

The closest Barclays branches to Welshpool will be in Oswestry and Llangollen, and for Newtown in Shrewsbury and Builth Wells.

• Are you a Barclays customer that will be affected by the branch closures? Get in touch with a County Times reporter by emailing news@countytimes.co.uk or message us on Facebook.