We have just been informed the the Coulsdon branch of Barclays bank (114-116 Brighton Road) will be closing on Friday 7th October due to a consistent drop in usage over many years.
You can read the full reasoning from Barclays in the attachment below, but the stand out stats show that Barclays claim that there has been a 30 per cent reduction in counter transactions in the last twelve months, compared to the twelve months to March 2020. Other stats supplied include:
- The number of counter transactions has gone down in the previous 24 months, and additionally 92% of branch customers also use other ways to do their banking such as online and by telephone
- Customers using other ways to do their banking has increased by 11% since 2016
- In the past 12 months, 32% of this branch's customers have been using nearby branches
- They've identified that only 27 customers use this branch exclusively for their banking
Despite the branch closure, Barclays say they are confident that access to banking remains sufficient in the local community; everyday transactions can be completed at any Post Office, with the closest located at 21 Lion Green Road, Coulsdon, a short distance away. The nearest ATM is located at Tesco 2-4 Chipstead Valley Road, Coulsdon; while the closest Barclays branches are located at 112 Woodcote Road, Wallington just under three miles away and 1 North End, Croydon just over four miles away.
We are very disappointed that this is happening to our community, the branch has been reducing its services for a number of years now. The branch is only open four days a week, and not on weekends. If accurate, the data provided by Barclays, however, is compelling, and matches well-documented trends in the way the vast majority of us conduct our personal banking - more is being done, more easily, online and on the telephone.
Barclays have asked us to source the answers to the following questions:
- What do you believe will be the biggest impact of the closure of the Coulsdon branch on the local community?
- What do you believe will be the biggest impact of the closure of the Coulsdon branch on customers of the branch?
- What alternative ways to bank do you believe need to be provided to help customers and the community adapt to this change?
Do please let us know what you think about the above by emailing [email protected]. We'll collate the responses and ensure that they get to Barclays.
We have written the below letter to Rebecca Hollands, Customer Care Director for Barclays, to express our concerns and represent the concerns of the community.
Our Letters to Barclays
We write as the three councillors covering Coulsdon to express our disappointment that Barclays are to close their branch in the Town.
Coulsdon is a vibrant shopping centre servicing thousands of local residents. Many of these residents are elderly and are not as in tune with modern day banking technology as others of a younger age.
Since the announcement we have received many complaints about the closure including from volunteers helping local charities that handle a lot of cash. Cash that can't be deposited at the post office. Our knowledge and experiences are of long queues at the branch which defies the claim that the branch is under used. Barclays has a longstanding tradition of community banking. I'm sure you would wish to preserve this reputation that has been built over many years.
Barclays has succeeded at a local community level where your competitors have failed. We ask you to seriously rethink this short-sighted decision to the benefit of Barclays reputation and your many loyal Coulsdon customers.
We will be inviting local residents to write to you in a similar vein.
Kind regards
Cllr Mario Creatura Cllr Ian Parker and Cllr Luke Shortland
Rebecca can be reached using [email protected].
