BARCLAYS will shut three more branches within hours to bring their number of closed banks up to 177 for the year.
The multinational universal bank will bring the shutters down on stores in Bicester, Soho Square and Stourbridge by the end of this week to round off their 2023 cull.
The Market Square branch in Bicester is the first of the trio to go as it operates for the final time today (Wednesday, December 13).
The Oxfordshire site will remain open until just 12pm before slamming its doors shut for good.
Barclays said a lack of use of the bank was the reasoning behind the closure when they announced the news in August.
They said that less than ten customers use the branch regularly as the only way to do their banking.
The nearest branches for customers are now in Cornmarket Street in Oxford and Bridge Street in Banbury.
On the Bicester Chat Facebook group for locals, many vented their disappointment following the news.
“Appalling,” slammed one person. “They are all working towards a cashless society where they can control everything you do.”
“Disgraceful,” spat another. “Shame on you Barclays. Another excuse to be top of the ‘cash cow’ membership.”
A third person added: “Such bad news,” before a fourth chimed: “Another terrible loss for Bicester.”
But the Bicester closure will soon be followed by that of one in London just a day later.
The Soho Square branch will shut on Thursday, December 14, and also have reduced opening hours of 9.30am-12pm for customers to pop in one final time.
The nearest branches are now located in Tottenham Court Road and Great Portland Street, both between a five to ten minute walk away.
Rounding off the triple closure by Barclays this week is the Stourbridge branch.
The store on High Street will close on Friday, December 15, at 12pm.
Barclays said only “25 regular customers use this branch exclusively for their banking and do not interact with us in other ways.”
Customers in the West Midlands must now travel to High Street in Dudley or Oxford Street in Kidderminster if they wish to make in-store transactions.
But Barclays customers elsewhere across the country are also at risk of losing their local branch after the banking giant announced a further 18 closures next year.
The majority of the branches will be shutting in March, while one will be shutting in December 2024.
A full list of closures can be found below, including locations in Richmond, Dundee, and Poole.
Elsewhere, NatWest Group is also bringing the shutters down in multiple locations next year.
The banking group will close 18 of its branches from February 2024 as it looks to move more of its services online.
But before then, it was recently announced that 19 bank branches are set to close their doors for the final time in December.
Along with Barclays, who are shutting 11 branches, five more banks will be closing branches for the final time.
Lloyds is closing one and the Bank of Scotland three, according to LINK, while Virgin Money is closing two, Halifax one and NatWest one.
