Barclays commits to keeping branch in Heywood open until at least October 2021

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Barclays bank, Heywood

Barclays bank says its branch in Heywood will be safe from closure until October 2021, as part of a commitment to ‘remote’ communities and places where Barclays is the ‘last bank in town’.

Over 100 Barclays branches around the country will be ring-fenced under the scheme.

Barclays is stepping up efforts to avoid closures of last in town or remote branches. The bank is trialling how it can work with customers and communities (including MPs, councillors, business groups) to see if customer demand can be increased and help make the branches more viable in the longer term.

The twelve trial locations include Pickering and Yarm in Yorkshire, Wombourne, Staffordshire and Risca, Wales, with further locations to be announced. Part of the trial will include flexible opening hours and making technology available to extend services such as video banking.

The bank will also introduce a cashback scheme, enabling customers to withdraw cash at businesses in remote towns and areas where there is no branch or ATM alternative within 1km. This will launch in over 200 locations from January 2020.

Adam Rowse, MD Branch Based Banking at Barclays said: “We are constantly exploring new ways to evolve the role of the branch. By maintaining last in town or remote branches over the next two years, and working with the community, we hope to increase demand and keep these branches viable.

“We also recognise that there are opportunities to support customers with access to cash where there is no branch or ATM nearby. We are launching a cashback offering working with merchants to give customers access to cash over the counter.

“By behaving differently, we hope to see a real difference in how customers interact with us.”