A number of residents in Ringmer will have to travel three miles to their nearest bank after Barclays announced the closure of the village’s branch.
The bank, in Westfields, The Green, will close its doors on Friday, October 23 due to a “reduction in use”.
However, the closure is causing upset among Barclays customers in the area, who feel the Lewes branch isn’t very accessible and that a growing village shouldn’t be having its services removed.
Parish councillor Martin Whitlock said: “Barclays announced Ringmer village bank closure from October 23, 2015.
“This will cause a huge inconvenience to local people, organisations and businesses in our busy, growing village. They suggest travelling three miles to Lewes, where there is no parking nearby, and the Lewes branch is in one of the most inaccessible places in the town. Not everybody has, wants or is able to use online faceless banking.”
Will Dixon, Barclays community leader for Sussex, said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices. We must therefore evolve the shape and size of our branch network in response to changing customer behaviour.
“Our records show we are seeing a continuing reduction in the use of this branch and more than 40 per cent of our customers already use other branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch.
“This means that following the closure, the nearest branch will be in Lewes, around three miles away from Ringmer.
“Everyday transactions, typically carried out over branch counters (including paying in a cheque or depositing cash), can also be completed at the Post Office located in the McColl’s store at 64, Springett Avenue, Ringmer.
“Our colleagues at the branch have been consulted about the change and will be given the opportunity to work at a nearby branch. We hope the availability of nearby branches, access to services at the local Post Office and our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers as we move out of the Ringmer branch.
“We do not take the decision to close any branch lightly. All of our customers will receive a letter, posters will be displayed in branch and colleagues will be on hand to assist customers with any concerns they may have.”
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