Barclays has announced the closure of 18 more branches, bringing the total number of closures this year to 178.
According to Barclays, it is responding to shifting consumer trends as more of its customers conduct their banking through digital channels, with less than 10% of its transactions now conducted in person. According to the bank, it has 10 million digital customers and can handle 70% of its business digitally.
”A spokesman tells Which?: “We will always give 12 weeks’ notice of any branch closures, explaining the rationale for the decision, as well as highlighting alternative branches and ways to bank.”
“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.”
Barclays is not the only bank that has reduced its branch network in response to the digital transformation. This year, 652 branches will close, representing half of the UK bank branch network since Which? began tracking closures in 2015.
