Barclays has opened a new ‘banking pod’ in the Nicholsons Shopping Centre to offer customers a face-to-face service following the closure of its town centre branch.
The banking giant closed its branch in Maidenhead High Street back in April due to a ‘change in customer behaviour’ which had left 80 people using the site regularly for in-person transactions.
The closure fuelled concerns over where customers would go to seek help for their finances and the potential impact on elderly and vulnerable people.
The company said the 94 per cent of its customers using the branch were also banking using the app, online and over the phone.
After the closure, an in-person Barclays Local service was made available at MyWorkSpot for customers.
But this has now been replaced by the new Barclays POD, which launched in the shopping centre on Friday, November 29.
Customers visiting the new POD, located in the area in front of The Works, will be able to access a wide range of services.
This includes financial reviews, opening savings accounts, balance requests and getting support with digital banking.
Maidenhead MP Josh Reynolds described the new facility as a ‘lifeline’ for people who value doing their banking in person.
Mr Reynolds previously wrote to the company earlier this year calling on them to re-consider the High Street branch closure due to the importance of maintaining face-to-face services.
He told the Advertiser: “It’s fantastic to see the new banking pod for Barclays open within the shopping centre.
“It’s going to be a lifeline for those Barclays customers that really want to be able to use those in-person facilities.”
The Barclays POD is open from Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 4.30pm.
The former Barclays branch at 92 Maidenhead High Street is set to go to auction on Thursday, December 12 with a guide price of £700,000+.
According to the Barnett Ross Auctioneers website, there may be potential for the upper parts of the building to be converted for residential use, subject to getting possession and the necessary consents.
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