Oundle’s Barclays branch announces closure - customers face long round trip for counter services

Barclays has revealed the date for the last day of trading at their Oundle branch as the company revealed its 15 latest bank closures.

The New Street branch’s final day will be Friday, May 5.

Customers have been directed to online services, the Post Office counter or remaining branches in Peterborough and Kettering.

Oakham’s High Street branch and Stamford’s Broad Street branch will also shut for good on Friday, April 28.

A spokesman for Barclays said: “Back when we opened this branch, visiting us in person was one of the only ways to do your banking.

"Now, as there are lots of ways to manage your money without even leaving your home, we’re seeing many customers choosing to bank using our app, and online or telephone banking. This has had a big impact on the number of customers coming in to see us.

“When deciding whether to close this branch, we looked carefully at how it’s been used and how customers are banking in other ways."

Research showed that only 14 customers used the branch ‘regularly’. A total of 88 per cent of people who used the branch also banked using the app, online or by phone in 2021. In the past 12 months 23 per cent of customers also used ‘nearby’ branches.

The company will be gathering feedback about the impact of the closure for a booklet.

The spokesman said: “Our local leadership teams look at how branches are used before making the decision to close a branch, which is then agreed at national level before we make it public."

They added: “If you have any concerns or would like to talk to us about this closure, or you’d like some help with what to do once it’s closed, please get in touch. You can call us on 03457 3453452, or email Samantha Neath, your Customer Care Director for East Central at [email protected].”

Customers can some banking services at the Post Office but those clients wishing to access over the counter facilities will have to travel to Kettering Barclays bank – 17 miles away – and Peterborough 14 miles away.