Barclays Bank Customers’ anger after bank announces trio of closures

Customers of Barclays Bank have expressed their anger after some were sent letters to tell them a trio of branches would be closing in the area.

The banking firm has said that the Market Hill bank in Diss will close on August 23, Framlingham’s Market Hill branch will shut permanently on August 25 and Harleston’s Market Place branch will close on or before May 24, 2024.

Some customers took to social media after finding out the news, including Sean Cole, who manages a business in Diss and personally banks with Barclays.

He said: “I find this extremely frustrating. How can I pay cash and cheques into my company’s PC tower? If I need change for the till, how do I get it? If we have problems with the company card, where do I go?

“Yes, it is all online, but I don’t pay myself to act as a bank. With it closing, the business will lose a good few hours or more a week acting as a bank, finding solutions to their problems online – not to mention the loss of jobs for those who work there.”

Sheila Hardingham also did not like the news.

She said: “Oh, seriously? Before Long Stratton closed, they pushed us to go online, which we reluctantly did.

“Now this. There are some things you cannot do over the phone or online – they won’t let you, especially if you have power of attorney for someone. Why do they make life so complicated? I give up, I truly do.”

Jessica Holligan also answered our call for opinions on the closures.

She said: “We need local Barclays to have a face-to-face conversation with and resolve issues, not rattling through automated phone calls for 40 minutes only to be told to go to your local branch to sort them.

“These closure will have a huge detrimental effect on local small businesses too, so what has to happen to keep it open? As customers, when were we asked for our opinion?”

Barclays released statistics on all three branches to demonstrate how it came to the decision for closures. In Diss, only 20 customers use the branch regularly, while 85 per cent of customers use its app, go online or use phone banking.

The Harleston figures showed that 42 customers used the branch regularly, with 85 per cent of people using other banking methods.

Framlingham fared little better, with 25 regular customers, while 86 per cent of people used the app, online or the phone to do their banking.

After the Diss Express contacted Barclays, a company spokesman said: “Our customers’ behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking.

“This is reflected at these branches and, as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.

“In all three places, we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel.

“We are currently working with the local community to identify a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed.”