HSBC to close Marlow and Windsor branches next year

The HSBC branches in Marlow and Windsor are among the 114 being closed by the bank next year.

Changing customer habits as more people move to digital banking have been cited as the main reason for the closures, with more than 95 per cent of transactions being completed digitally.

Marlow’s branch in the High Street will close its doors on Tuesday, July 18, with the Windsor branch shutting a month later on Tuesday, August 22.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s managing director of UK distribution, said: “People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning.

“Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us. Not only can we do it anywhere at any time of day or night, many more things can be done at the customers’ convenience and don’t rely on a branch visit.

“Branches will continue to play an important role in day-to-day banking, while providing specialist face-to-face support in moments that matter.

“In addition to our branch network, customers can access services through the Post Office network, our Community Pop-ups and soon-to-come Banking Hubs, alongside Live Chat, social media and through telephone banking.

“The decision to close a branch is never easy or taken lightly, especially if we are the last branch in an area, so we’ve invested heavily in our ‘post closure’ strategy, including providing free tablet devices to selected branch customers who do not already have a device to bank digitally, alongside one-to-one coaching to help them migrate to digital banking.”