Concern after Barclays in Ulverston announces closure

Barclays in County Square will shut for the final time next year, bosses have confirmed, following a ‘sustained fall’ in branch visits.

The bank’s closure is the third bank to close its doors in Ulverston in the past five years, after HSBC and Natwest shut in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Barclays’ impending closure means Lloyds and Furness Building Society will be the only two remaining banks in Ulverston.

A Barclays spokesman 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 fall in customer transactions is reflected at Ulverston branch and we also know four-fifths of our customers at the branch are 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.”

Bosses confirmed that the Ulverston branch will close its doors on Friday January 21 2022 and the next nearest branch available is 86-90 Dalton Road, Barrow.

Barclays said they will be ‘proactively engaging’ with local businesses and the wider community to discuss the alternative ways customers will be able to undertake their banking locally.

They will also be offering virtual ‘tea and teach’ sessions for customers wishing to explore digital banking and other alternatives to branch based banking.

Cllr Andrew Butcher, who sits on Ulverston Town Council, described the announcement as ‘very worrying’ for bank-users.

He said: “This is very worrying, especially after the closure of HSBC and Natwest in the town.

“It’s seriously worrying now we’re down to just Lloyds TSB and the Furness Building Society.

“It’s alright using the machines but a lot of people rely on using banks.

“It’s disgusting. We need banks in our town, using post offices just isn’t good enough.”