Barclays will pull down the shutters on another branch in the region.

The banking giant has announced the closures of 20 more branches, including a staple branch in the North East, that the business previously promised would stay open. 

The bank's Barnard Castle location will shut on or before Friday, January 17, 2025, Barclays bosses have said. 

In their reasons for closing the branch, a Barclays spokesperson said: "Back when we opened this branch, visiting us in person was one of the only ways to do your banking.

"Now, as there are lots of ways to manage your money without even leaving your home, we’re seeing many customers choosing to bank using our app, and Online or Telephone Banking.

"This has had a big impact on the number of customers coming in to see us."

Currently, only 28 customers use the branch regularly as the only way to do their banking; 87 per cent of the branch's customers also use the app, online, and phone service to bank; and 21 per cent of the branch's customers have visited nearby branches in the last 12 months. 

They added: “As visits to branches continue to fall, with the majority of people preferring to bank online, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers. This is reflected at Barnard Castle where we are delivering new ways to support our customers and the community with options for those who need in-person services.”

“In Barnard Castle we plan to open a Barclays Local – a cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel. We are currently working with the local community to identify a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed.”

Previously, bank bosses pledged to work with communities, including those in Barnard Castle and Middleton-in-Teesdale, to keep the last banks in towns open. 

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Four years ago, Barclays committed to keeping a total of 105 last-in-town and remote branches open until at least October 2021. 

Since this date, they have shut the Middleton-in-Teesdale branch and earmarked the Barnard Castle branch for closure too. 

The nearest branch for those in these towns is now Darlington.