Shifnal to lose its last bank as Barclays closure date announced

Barclays will close its Shifnal branch on October 20, the bank has confirmed today.

It is the last bank in the town, after Lloyds closed in October 2016 and Nationwide closed its branch in 2012.

The bank says more than half of its customers now do banking at other branches, and so they have taken the decision to close.

It also says it will look to move staff into other branches to prevent job losses.

Residents have reacted angrily to the news, taking to social media to share their disappointment, and local councillors have said it is a "crying shame" that banks are not taking into account the needs of the community.

People living in Shifnal say the closure of the branch on Market Square, will affect older people who still prefer to do their banking face-to-face rather than online.

Councillor Kevin Turley, ward member for Shifnal North, said: "From a personal perspective it is a crying shame that we are losing the last bank in Shifnal.

"We still have the Post Office and I expect that they will see a lot of business.

"There are still older people who do use branches because they aren't online and these closures mean that is taken away from that demographic."

Buses from Shifnal to Telford run about every half an hour, with trains every hour and Councillor Turley said he would have preferred to see branches chosen for closure where it is easier for customers to get to other branches.

Raj Dhaliwal, Barclays Community Banking Director for the area said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

"At Barclays' Shifnal branch, customer usage has continued to decline and 57 per cent of our customers now regularly use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it.

We hope that the availability of our other Barclays branches in the area, Telford and Madeley, and access to services at the local Post Office located at 8 Cheapside, Shifnal, along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.

"Staff at the Shifnal branch will be offered roles at other branches within the local area.”

Customers who hold accounts at the Shifnal branch will be able to use branches at Telford Shopping Centre and in Madeley, as well as use the Post Office.

All customers will receive a letter, a 'decision to close document' and posters will be displayed in branch and colleagues will be on hand to assist customers with any concerns they may have following the announcement.

The bank urges any customer who is concerned about how to undertake their banking once the branch closes to contact them so they can discuss options.

It will also be looking to hold sessions on how to use online banking for customers who want to know more about the service.