Farewell Barclays

Barclays Bank is set to join NatWest and HSBC on closing its Welshpool branch today, leaving just Lloyds as the town’s remaining physical bank, until that closes in the New Year.

But the bank has confirmed that staff will be available, starting next week, at the 1st Clive's Own Welshpool Scout Headquarters & Community Centre, known as the COWSHACC in Berriew Street Car Park, every Monday and Wednesday from 9.30am-4.30pm.

Customers have poured into the branch this week to make last minute banking requests, and to bid farewell to the staff who have served the town so well.

With Lloyds’ departure meaning that Welshpool will be left without a physical bank in 2023, the town will become the first in Wales to have a branch of the new Banking Hub initiative, which will see staff from the main banks rotate days at a location somewhere in the town centre.

It will mean customers of the big four will be given specific days when staff will be available to meet in dedicated rooms, while over the counter services will be available too.

That service is expected to be open by the summer next year with a location still to be identified.

Barclays’ Newtown branch will also close next Friday, September 23.