COUNCILLORS are urging a bank to keep its in-person facilities open.

Barclays announced it will close its Haltwhistle and Prudhoe branches later this year. 

The closures are due to declining transactions inside the branch.

Prudhoe North councillor Angie Scott, Hexham MP Guy Opperman, Cllr Gordon Stewart and Cllr Ian Hutchinson have appealed to Barclays to keep the facilities open.

Hexham MP Guy Opperman, Cllr Gordon Stewart and Cllr Ian Hutchinson launched a campaign to retain physical banking facilities in Prudhoe and Haltwhistle after Barclays announced that both branches would be closing this August.

Following the announcement the branches will close, the MP is working with Cllr Stewart and Cllr Hutchinson to ensure in-person facilities remain for residents and businesses that are uncomfortable with banking online.

The MP will meet with bank representatives to find a resolution.

Mr Opperman successfully campaigned for Barclays to retain in-person banking facilities in Ponteland after the Lloyds branch closed last year.

Guy Opperman MP said: "Access to cash and in-person banking are vital services to residents who cannot access online banking.

"I am working to encourage Barclays to ensure their customers in Haltwhistle and Prudhoe are not left behind after the branches close.

"We must retain in-person banking facilities for our rural communities and towns."

Cllr Gordon Stewart said: "I have been following details of bank closures nationally with great interest.

"I want to ensure that Barclays customers in Prudhoe are supported to ensure our town continues to go from strength to strength."

Cllr Scott said: “Prudhoe is a sizeable town and the bank is well-used. Many people, especially the many older people living in the town, rely on it.

“I fully support the petition started by resident Tracy Gilmore and would remind people to make their feelings known by signing it.

“In the meantime, I will be contacting the management at Barclays Bank to make them aware of the strength of feeling in the town.

“Banks are there to make profits, which they seem extremely good at, but they're also there to provide a service to the public. They need to be reminded of that.”

A Barclays spokesman said: “Our customers’ behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking. 

"This is reflected at the Prudhoe and Haltwhistle branches, and as we adapt, we are finding new ways to support our customers by maintaining our community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support.

“In both Prudhoe and Haltwhistle we plan to open a Barclays Local – a pop-up cashless banking site where customers can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking support, as they would in a branch and without the need to travel.

"We are currently working with the local community to identify suitable locations and will announce details once confirmed," they said.