THE LAST remaining bank in a Buckinghamshire town has closed its doors for good.

Barclays Bank on High Street, Woburn Sands, Buckinghamshire, shut at 12pm on Tuesday, April 18. 

Only nine customers used the branch regularly, according to the bank.

A spokeswoman said the Barclays Local service will run at the nearby garden centre on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am to 2.30pm

"The role of the physical branch is evolving, with fewer than 10% of transactions now taking place inside a branch," she said.

Customers would be able to use an app, telephone, online and video banking.

Barclays in Woburn Sands adds to the loss of hundreds of branches across the banking sector in 2023.

The banking industry has pointed to data showing that fewer people are using their branches to justify an increasing number of closures during recent years.

The Bucks Free Press asked readers whether they still use a bank and a resident urged others to "keep the banks alive." 

Some readers said they use a bank 'every week' whilst others said they haven't visited one since 2018.

Towns across Bucks have seen dozens of bank closures in the past couple of years.,

Natwest in Marlow closed last year leaving Colin McCulloch concerned about what the future of online banking means for residents, especially those who are elderly or disabled.

He told the Free Press last week: "What's worst about the closure of the banks in Marlow is the depersonalisation of banking. We are being overwhelmed with digital services that are so impersonal and just don't suit the needs of a lot of people.

"It's especially concerning for people who aren't digitally literate because not only are they missing out on social interactions when they can't talk to someone face to face, but they're at a higher risk of being scammed or swindled."

The pandemic accelerated changes in how customers used banking services, with many learning for the first time how to bank from home.

However, critics say some of the more vulnerable members of society – especially those in older age groups who are less confident on the internet – will be left without access to services they understand.

Kirsten Palmer said she uses the bank a  "few times a week" as she runs a business and is self-employed.

Helen Grant echoed this and said: "Once a week to pay my wages in as I get paid cash like a lot of self-employed people."

Some are having travel longer distances than usual due to their local bank branches closing.

Wendy Allnutt said: "There is only a Nationwide in Risborough now and they've closed the TSB and Barclays in Aylesbury now too so I have to go to Wycombe."

Chris McLean said: "Unfortunately our nearest branch closed recently so have to travel 12 miles each way instead of 4."