BARCLAYS has announced it will shut its Haslemere High Street branch on November 27, as part of a nationwide closure programme that will see 78 branches axed between August and the end of the year.

Britain’s major banks are on course to close 500 branches across the country in the coming months.

Grayshott is set to lose its NatWest branch on November 11.

Justifying the decision to close its Haslemere branch, Barclays community leader Donna Hagan said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices. We must therefore evolve the shape and size of our branch network in response to changing customer behaviour.

“Our records show a low and falling level of transactions at the branch with a reduction of 11 per cent in the last year alone. On average, more than a third of customers are already using other branches, and this figure rises to more than half for our business customers, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch.

“This closure means that our nearest branches will be in Midhurst, Godalming and Farnham. Everyday transactions, typically carried out over branch counters, including paying in a cheque or depositing cash, can also be completed at the nearby Post Office at 3 West Street, Haslemere.

“Our colleagues at the branch have been consulted about the change and will be given the opportunity to work at a nearby branch.

“We hope that the availability of nearby branches, access to services at the local Post Office and our range of digital channels will help to ease the transition for our customers as we move out of the Haslemere branch.

“We do not take the decision to close any branch lightly and we are committed to adhering to the new UK Government protocol on branch closures. All of our customers will receive a letter, posters will be displayed in branch and colleagues will be on hand to assist customers with any concerns they may have. We 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, before the branch closes on November 27.”