Third bank to shut branch in Wellington
Another bank is set to close its doors in Wellington – the third to announce it is leaving the town this year.
HSBC, which has a branch in Station Road, will officially shut its doors on August 12. Bank bosses say the closure is down to more people doing their banking online via telephone or on the phone the internet.
It said no jobs will be lost in the closure, with staff moved to other branches.
The latest closure comes after it was announced last month that Natwest is due to close its branch in Church Street on July 14. The bank will also close a branch on High Street in Wem and will be reduce its hours at its Bridgnorth branch.
The Co-operative Bank closed its Wellington branch in Market Square on May 3. It has also closed its branches in Whitchurch and Oswestry.
Though it is not able to give figures about drop in custom at specific branches, HSBC says nationally its banks see 40 per cent fewer people in branch.
Steve Gracey, a spokesman for HSBC, said: "We never take the decision to close a branch lightly, and we understand it's unsettling for the local community.
"Unfortunately, with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years use of the Wellington branch has fallen significantly, and we've taken the difficult decision to close it.
"We notified customers of the closure and will be working with those who use the branch to help them understand their options, which include being able to use local post offices for their day-to-day banking."
HSBC says that now, 93 per cent of contact with the bank is done through calls, the website or smartphones and 97 per cent of cash withdrawals are made through cash machines, and not at the counter.
HSBC has previously announced the closure of several branches in Shropshire and Mid Wales in recent months.
