HSBC bank set to close in Wyke Regis (From Dorset Echo)

HSBC bank set to close in Wyke Regis

1:00pm Friday 28th September 2012 in News By Emma Walker

CLOSING: The HSBC branch on Portland Road in Wyke Regis

A Weymouth community is to be left without a bank as its only branch faces closure.

HCBC, known as the ‘world’s local bank’, is to close its Wyke Regis branch, along with the external cash point on Friday, December 14.

Bosses at HSBC claim customer numbers at the Portland Road bank have fallen ‘significantly’ over the past few years.

A total of 45 of the company’s local branches have closed nationwide this year.

A spokesman for HSBC said: “On occasions we need to close some branches where customer footfall has fallen dramatically.

“Our branch in Wyke Regis is a case in point.”

The branch, which opens for limited hours for three days of the week, has served the community for 50 years and used to be to Midland Bank.

Local customers will now have to rely on the only other HSBC in the borough based in the town centre.

The spokesman added: “Customer usage has fallen very significantly over the past few years as our customers use other HSBC branches in the area or they are using the 24 hour convenience of ATM, internet or telephone or mobile phone banking.

“We will not be leaving an ATM once the branch closes as there are around 50 others within a one and a half mile radius of the branch.”

Help will be given to people who rely on the local branch ahead of the closure.

The spokesman said: “We will now be working with the small number of customers who use the branch.

“Customers will be able to use our other branch in Weymouth which is open for longer hours and also at weekends.

“From early next year our bank account customers will be able to use any of the 11,500 Post Office branches to conduct their banking needs.” The two members of staff who work at the Wyke Regis branch will transfer to the HSBC in Weymouth.

Weymouth and Portland Borough Councillor Kate Wheller said she was ‘concerned’ about the closure.

She added: “It is a great shame because as a borough we are working to improve business and business accounts and local banks are not helping us.

“HSBC are making cuts all over the country.

“The arrangements being made for people to have accounts accessed through the post office is useful but does not cover everything.”

And More Face The Chop

SCORES of local branches have been closed by HSBC with more due for the chop.

A total of 50 HSBC banks were closed last year along with 45 axed so far this year.

Another 23 are due to close between the end of this month and mid-December.

In 2011, the banking giant revealed it would cut up to 30,000 jobs over the next two years in a cull set to impact on more than 10% of its workforce. The efficiency drive, which will save the bank up to £2.1 billion a year, aimed to cope with reduced levels of activity.