Bank to close second Rotherham branch

HSBC announced yesterday its Dinnington branch will close and today confirmed its Wickersley store will also close on the same day - February 17, 2017.

A HSBC spokesman said the Dinnington branch employed two people and the Wickersley branch employed three – all have been offered the opportunity to relocate to another branch.

Customers will now face up to a 14-mile round-trip to speak directly to a member of staff in the Worksop or Rotherham town centre branches.

The spokesman said the closures were due to declining footfall in branches nationwide, which had reduced by 40 per cent in five years, but specific branch footfall could not be given.

He added: “Sometimes we have to make the difficult decision to close branches, however these are not decisions we take lightly and we work closely with those impacted, including customers, to help them understand their options. 

“With regard to the Dinnington branch, we have advised our customers that there is an alternative branch in Worksop, which is located just six-and-a-half miles away should customers wish to visit a branch and talk to a member of the HSBC team face-to-face.”

Wickersley customers face a ten-mile round-trip to use the Rotherham town centre branch.

He added: “That said, 93 per cent of contact with the bank is now completed via the telephone, internet or smartphone, plus 97 per cent of cash withdrawals are made via an ATM. 

“As a result, most of our customers are already carrying out their daily banking needs without need of the branch itself. 

“In addition to mobile and internet banking, we have put in place a number of measures to help customers, including a partnership with the Post Office so our customers can still carry out their day to day banking.”