Barclays are set to close their Shanklin branch in November of this year, it has been confirmed.
A decline in the number of customers using in-branch services has been blamed for the closure, which will take place on Friday 17th November 2017.
The news means that the High Street bank will operate just 2 branches on the Island; 1 in Newport and 1 in Ryde. It comes 2-and-a-half years after the bank closed its Freshwater branch.
Chris Maynard, Community Banking Director for Barclays Solent and Dorset, has told Island Echo:
“The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices. At Barclays Shanklin branch, customer usage has continued to decline by 10% in the last year alone and nearly two thirds [63%] of our branch customers now regularly use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it. This figure is even higher for business customers.
“We hope that the availability of our nearest Barclays branch at Barclays 7/8 High Street, Ryde, and access to services at the local Post Office located at 42 Regent Street, Shanklin, along with our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers.”
There will be no job losses due to the closure – Barclays staff will be re-located to either Ryde or Newport.
Barclays will be hosting ‘tea and teach’ sessions at the Shanklin branch for customers wishing to explore digital banking. More information about this can be obtained in-branch.
