A Stirling city centre bank branch will close its doors this summer – meaning the next nearest branch for customers will be in Glasgow city centre.
The Barclays’ branch in Murray Place is earmarked for closure on Friday, August 11, with banking bosses blaming a drop-off in the number of customers using the in-branch services for the decision.
The closure means that customers of the banking giant will be left either having to conduct their business online or having to travel 27 miles to the branch in Argyle Street in Glasgow.
Alternatively, they can travel 34 miles to the outlet in High Street in Perth.
In documentation sent to Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed, Barclays said: “Back when we opened this branch, visiting us in person was one of the only ways to do your banking.
“Now, as there are lots of ways to manage your money without even leaving your home, we’re seeing many customers choosing to bank using our app, and online or telephone banking.
“This has had a big impact on the number of customers coming in to see us.”
The document added: “When deciding whether to close this branch, we looked carefully at how it’s been used and how customers are banking in other ways.
“96- per cent of people who use our branch have also banked using the app, online and by phone in 2021.
“Less than 10 customers use this branch regularly as the only way to do their banking.
“12-per cent of this branch’s customers have used nearby branches in the last 12 months.”
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It goes on: “We’ll be working with the local community to understand the impact of closing this branch. Once we’ve gathered feedback, we’ll publish the results in a booklet called ‘Branch closure feedback’, which you can get from your branch or online.”
Stirling MSP Evelyn Tweed described the development as “disappointing.
She told the Observer: “During this cost-of-living crisis, it’s vital that the public feel they have easy access to their local bank.
“Many people feel less comfortable with online or telephone banking or lack the phone signal or quality of internet connection to access these services, so an in-person presence of their bank is very important.
“This disappointing news follows the closure of branches of several other banks in Stirling.
“Barclays has confirmed that they will maintain a presence in Stirling, although with no cash on site.
“I have contacted Barclays on behalf of my constituents for clarification on which services will be still be offered in Stirling.
“I have also asked about the potential for a banking hub to be set up in Stirling which would allow access to a number of different banks in one venue.
“I await their response and will update those concerned as soon as possible.”
The impending Barclays closure is the most recent in a string of closure by banking giants across the region in recent years.
In December last year, we told how, following a “comprehensive review” from banking giants HSBC on their branch network, the Murray Place branch will close next month, with the nearest branch also in Glasgow.
In March last year, we reported how Dunblane was set to lose its last remaining bank branch.
The town’s branch of Bank of Scotland was set for close last July. In March 2021, two rural branches of Bank of Scotland also closed their doors for the final time.
The outlets in Balfron and Killin were closed due to a downturn in the number of customers using services in-branch.
