ST HELENS town centre’s Barclays bank branch is to close its doors later this year, it has been confirmed.

The premises, on Church Street, is to close with the bank citing “significantly changing” customer behaviour.

The bank says that, in total, 39 regular customers use the St Helens branch exclusively for their banking who “do not interact with (Barclays) in other ways”.

However, Barclays says the role of the physical branch is “evolving, with fewer than 10 per cent of transactions now taking place inside a branch”.

Barclays adds it is 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”.

The bank added it does not intend to make anyone redundant as a direct result of this closure, which will take place on Thursday, May 4.

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After the closure of the St Helens site, the closest Barclays branches will be located in the neighbouring towns of Wigan and Warrington.

Barclays added it 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”.

The bank will be offering “virtual ‘tea and teach’ sessions for customers wishing to explore digital banking and other alternatives to branch-based banking”.

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

“This is reflected at St Helens’ 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."

They added: “In St Helens 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.”