Barclays Bank to shut second Northumberland branch

Barclays plans to replace the Berwick branch with a cashless hub

Barclays Bank is to close another branch in Northumberland.

The branch on Hide Hill in Berwick will shut in February next year.

The bank has already closed branches in Alnwick and Seahouses which it said was in response to changing customer habits.

Berwick's Chamber of Trade& Commerce called the latest closure "disappointing".

Chairman Stephen Scott said it followed "a national trend that Berwick has largely escaped, so far".

"However, the reality is that the banking world has changed and Berwick can't be immune to it," he said.

"The closure will clearly impact many domestic and business customers, particularly the elderly and businesses that handle a lot of cash transactions."

Local hub alternative

Barclays has announced nearly 200 branch closures in recent years.

It said only 10% of transactions were now taking place face-to-face, with just 19 regular customers in Berwick who do not use online or phone banking options.

The company said it needed to "adapt to provide the best service for all our customers".

It plans to set up a Barclays Local hub in the town, as it has in Seahouses and Alnwick, to provide in-person financial reviews, balance requests, new account opening and support with digital banking.

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

As the hub would be cashless, the company suggested customers carry out routine banking transactions at a local post office.

However, the post office in Berwick town centre closed last year and the nearest branch is approximately a mile away, in Tweedmouth.