MP Joy Morrissey has called the exodus of banks from Marlow high street 'disappointing' as new research reveals up to a third of Britons prefer in-person services.

On April 13, an application was approved to dismantle ATMs and branding from the HSBC building at number 46 on Marlow High Street.

The banking corporation's departure from the town follows the closure of Marlow's Natwest, Lloyds and Barclays branches over the past year. 

MP for Marlow and Beaconsfied, Joy Morrissey, has said the loss of bank premises on the high street is "disappointing".

She added: "People need these facilities, especially older residents who haven't adapted to new technologies. There's a huge value in being able to speak with someone face to face."

A report published by PA on April 10 unveiled new findings that up to a third of UK residents continue to favour in-person banking despite an apparent decline in branch footfall, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The research, carried out by Accenture, found that 44% of over 55s and 20% of 18 to 34-year-olds would prefer to carry out all banking services in person.

Managing Director of banking strategy for Accenture, Tom Merry, said: “The big banks must balance a fantastic digital experience with human interventions which really matter.

“For some, these can be easily delivered via improved remote video and voice experiences without a branch. But for now, for some, nothing beats being in the room when it comes to complex and confusing financial matters.”

Mayor of Marlow, Richard Scott, agreed that the central loss to residents would be the "personal contact" provided by in-branch advisors.

He said: "It's a shame to lose every bank in the town but unfortunately we are using them less and less. A lot of people are going online so you can understand why some have had to close.

"Banks leaving the high street are vacating some spaces that could be very useful for other businesses. What used to be Lloyds bank is now The Duke of Clarence pub which is a great venue."

The Mayor added that he was in full support of a banking hub, to provide those seeking in-person consultations in Marlow with a branch spokesperson. 

In a statement published at the end of last year, HSBC announced that imminent closures across the country were due to a 65% decrease in footfall across its UK branches, with some serving fewer than 250 customers per week.

Director of UK Distribution, Jackie Uhi, said a remote banking approach would be more convenient for customers due to less restrictive hours but added that the bank were looking to roll out banking hubs alongside branch closures.

The hubs, buildings designed to provide in-person services via representatives from a range of major banks, are being implemented across the UK in areas including Norfolk, Derbyshire and Yorkshire.

On April 5, ATM provider LINK announced their support of 50 new hubs according to an assessment of community need and local branch closures.

LINK has a review form on its website that can be submitted by residents to volunteer their town for a suitability assessment. Click here to access it now.