THE IMPENDING closure of Tenby’s Barclays Bank has fuelled fears that the Cardigan branch could be axed in the next round of closures.
It was reported on Monday that the High Street banking giants were pulling out of the resort in November where they have had a presence for many years.
Mayor of Tenby Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall slammed Barclays for 'disloyalty' over plans to close the branch in her town.
“For many years, many local people and local businesses have been loyal customers and given Barclays their support,” she said.
“How sad that they are not to be supported in return.”
Across the county border in Ceredigion, Barclays’ Lampeter branch is due to close its doors next Tuesday.
When its closure was announced in May, Cardigan mayor Cllr Trystan Phillips expressed his concern that the town’s High Street-based branch could be next, although Cardigan does not currently number among a Barclays list of branches ear-marked for closure.
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“I sincerely hope that what has happened in Lampeter won’t be a similar pattern in other branches,” he told the Tivy-Side.
“The ability to enter the Cardigan branch is a crucial service to many, where online banking is not possible or practical.
“The ability to speak to someone face-to-face is crucial for many things and for many it is also an important social inter-action, which enhances our social well-being.
“Barclays in Cardigan always appears very busy and popular and that’s testament to the supportive and friendly staff there, so hopefully there will be no reason for that branch to be in jeopardy.”
A Barclays spokesperson said: “The decision to close a branch is never an easy one. However, customers are increasingly using alternatives to branches to do their banking. As a result, we are seeing a sustained fall in branch visits across the UK.
“This is reflected at the Tenby branch where there has been a 47 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the two years to March 2022. In addition, 86 per cent of our Tenby customers are also using different ways to bank.
“We will work with our customers and provide alternative options to ensure they can continue to manage their money and receive financial expertise when required.
"This includes working with the local community to find different, more flexible ways for our colleagues to continue to provide local banking support, such as through pop-up presences.”
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