BARCLAYS bank in Weymouth is into its last week of business. 

The bank, which is located on St Mary Street in Weymouth town centre, is set to close a week today on Friday, March 3 at midday.

The decision was made to close the branch in December 2022 and comes four years after the company opted to close its location in Bridport. 

Barclays says it chose to shut the Weymouth branch because:

  • 88 per cent of people who use the branch have also banked using the app, online and by phone in 2021
  • 68 customers use the bank regularly as the only way to do their banking 
  • 23 per cent of the branch's customers have used nearby branches over the previous 12 months

In a letter sent out to customers, Barclays wrote: "Many of our customers are choosing to bank differently these days, which means fewer customers are visiting our branches and because of this, we're going to be changing the way we support our customers in your area."

The closure means that local customers will have to make the journey to Dorchester to visit their nearest branch in person. 

On the subject of potential jobs lost with the closure a spokesperson for Barclays said: "We do not intend to make anyone redundant as a direct result of this closure."

Despite closing, the bank did promise to 'still be part of the local community' despite the closure, with another resource set to provide a service to help people with banking-related issues - although there will be no cash held on the premises. 

A statement from Barclays said: "We want to reassure you that we’re here to help. We’ll stay in your community and you’ll be able to talk to us in person.

"We’re finalising the details of where we’ll be based, and when, to support you with your banking, and we‘ll share the details locally once confirmed.

"We’ll be available to help you with things like day-to-day banking queries and helping you manage your money, though there won’t be access to cash at this site."

The Echo has contacted Barclays to find out more details about this new resource, where it will be and when it will open.

Barclays Weymouth is one of many bank branches that are set to close across Dorset this year as the banking world turns digital. 

Another bank, HSBC, will be shutting five of its outlets across the county this year with it announcing that footfall was at an all-time low and that 97.5 per cent of transactions are now done digitally. 

It will see branches close in Bridport, Dorchester, Blandford, Shaftesbury and Christchurch later this year. 

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