Barclays Bank to close its only branch in West Lothian

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Barclays bank will shut its only West Lothian branch in May.The bank announced it will close its doors for the final time at Livingston Centre on May 10.Barclays bosses say footfall has dropped dramatically, with only 20 customers using the branch regularly as the only way to do their banking and fewer than 10 per cent of transactions now taking place inside a bank.It claims it will still have a presence in the town so customers can talk to staff face-to-face with details announced shortly.A number of banks including Bank of Scotland and TSB have closed branches around West Lothian over the last few years as more customers switch to online banking.A Barclays spokesperson said: “As visits to branches continue to fall, with the majority of people preferring to bank online, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers.“This is reflected at Livingston, where we are delivering new ways to support our customers and the community with options for those who need in-person services.“In Livingston we plan to open a Barclays Local – a 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 a suitable location and will announce details once confirmed.”Livingston MP Hannah Bardell MP said she would be contacting Barclays about her concerns over constituents’ access to banking services.She said: “I am extremely disappointed by the news that Barclays is planning to close its only branch in West Lothian.

This is a blow to the local community and local businesses which rely on the branch, particularly the most vulnerable people in Livingston and those who cannot