Barclays to launch banking pods after branch closings
Barclays plans to launch a string of banking pods after announcing more branch closures.
The bank said it will expand its flexible banking formats in response to changing customer needs.
Plans include the launch of new banking pods, which will be purpose-built, semi-permanent structures in locations such as shopping centres and retail parks.
The bank said that the pods will provide a private space and can be moved depending on demand.
The bank hasn't yet revealed the locations for the pods, but it is believed that they will be spread out, potentially popping up soon in areas such as London, the Midlands and the North East.
The pods are part of the Barclays Local initiative.
The bank works with local councils and communities to arrange a presence in places such as town halls and libraries, as part of the scheme that Barclays is expanding.
Barclays added that six electric vehicle EV banking vans will be added to the existing fleet of 10, which will allow it to reach customers in remote locations.
It will grow its cashback without purchase service, which has created new locations for people to withdraw cash free of charge, via thousands of small businesses.
The bank will continue to review its physical sites, including branches, pods and pop-up services.
On Saturday, Barclays announced that it would be shutting down 15 branches, with NatWest and Lloyds Banking Group also announcing branch closings.
Jo Mayer, head of everyday banking at Barclays UK, said that Barclays Local is a flexible way to reach customers in new locations and retain a presence where customer footfall has reduced, bringing face-to- face support to convenient locations.
We need to reimagine where and how we show up in order to provide the best service to customers now and in the future, as visits to branches continue to fall.
Our community pop-ups and community pods help us tailor our in-person support for each location, including support with digital skills.
In areas where we close a branch, we will maintain our presence in that community, offering an alternative face-to-face solution. Barclays is part of the industry effort to increase the number of banking hubs, where different banks operate from shared spaces.
As the cost-of-living crisis continues, banks such as Barclays close hundreds of branches, making it hard for people to deposit and withdraw it, he said.
There are proposals to plug gaps left by bank branch closures, but need to be rolled out quickly in order to keep access to cash, and make sure people feel their benefits.
Such proposals need to be backed up by long-awaited government legislation which would introduce minimum levels of free access to cash so that people don't have to pay to access their own money.