I am extremely disappointed to learn of Barclay’s decision to close their branch in Filey on 7th December 2018. This is the last brick and mortar bank branch left in Filey.
The nearest branch will be at St Nicholas Street in Scarborough, which is a 16 mile round trip for residents of Filey and even further for my constituents living in Hunmanby and Reighton. Everyday transactions, typically carried out over branch counters (including paying in a cheque or depositing cash), can be completed at the Post Office at the Evron Centre on John Street in Filey.
According to Which?, over 200 Barclays branches have closed or are due to be closed nationwide between 2015 and the end of this year. This is an alarming trend, approximately 250 bank branches are closed or are due to be closed in Yorkshire and the Humber by the end of the year.
This decision by Barclays leaves many of my constituents without ready access to banking services locally. Filey, and my constituency as a whole, contains an ageing population, many of whom do not drive, struggle with access to public transport and do not have access to the internet. Those who are computer literate are often hindered when using online banking services due to the poor availability of broadband in towns and villages across Thirsk and Malton.
I understand the drive towards online and mobile banking but there are a number of concerns, including instances of fraud, which I am investigating in my role as co-Chair of the APPG on Fair Business Banking, as well as those already mentioned above.
I shall be meeting the Head of Corporate Relations North East for Barclays and their Community Banking Director for Yorkshire to discuss this in more detail and to ask them to keep the branch open. I shall also be raising my concerns with the Minister for Small Business, Consumers and Corporate Responsibility when Parliament returns from recess.