Heywood Barclays to close in April

Photo: Google, DigitalGlobe

Barclays bank, Heywood

The last bank in Heywood – Barclays – is set to close its doors for good at the end of April.

The Church Street branch is one of just two Barclays branches in the Rochdale borough, and will be permanently closed from Friday 28 April.

Barclays says it is closing the branch because 90% of people who use the branch also banked using the app, online and by phone in 2021.

It adds that “35 customers use this branch regularly as the only way to do their banking” whilst 39% of the branch’s customers have used nearby branches in the last 12 months.

Barclays says fewer than 10% of transactions now take place inside a branch.

When the Church Street branch closes, the nearest Barclays branches will be on Yorkshire Street, Rochdale, or at The Rock in Bury centre.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “Our customers’ behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking. 

“This is reflected at Heywood branch, and as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.

“In Heywood we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up 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.”

Whilst people will still be able to do most of their banking online or via the Barclays app, customers can use their local post office to withdraw or pay in cash, and to pay in cheques (using a pre-printed paying in slip and cheque deposit envelope, which you’ll need to get from Barclays).

Barclays says it will be working with the local community to understand the impact of closing the Heywood branch and will publish feedback results in a booklet called ‘Branch closure feedback’, which will be available online.

If you have any concerns or would like to talk to Barclays about this closure, or you’d like some help with what to do once it’s closed, call 03457 3453452, or email Lisa McCormick, Customer Care Director for Manchester & Cheshire at lisa.mccormick@barclays.com.