Clacton’s Barclays branch will close its doors to the public in spring, due to the number of branch visits declining.

The banking institution has announced a series of further closures of branches across the country. 

Clacton’s branch in Station Road will close on April 18, a spokesman has confirmed, but the closure will not entail redundancies as a “direct result of this closure”.

A Barclays spokesman 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. 

Clacton and Frinton Gazette: Closure - Clacton's Barclays branch in Station Road is set to close in April

"This is reflected at Clacton-on-Sea, where we are delivering new ways to support our customers and the community with options for those who need in-person services.

“In Clacton-on-Sea 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.”

Those who would like to attend a branch in person can visit the nearest location in Colchester High Street. 

Councillor Paul Honeywood said: "

“I was concerned to hear of Barclays plans to close their branch in Station Road from April 2024. A move that will not help our town to prosper.

"While it cannot be denied that there have been changes in the way local people bank it needs to be remembered that some customers are not confident when it comes to alternatives such as internet banking and would prefer to actually talk to someone face to face, especially when they have a concern or issue.

"It’s my understanding that the nearest branch with a cashier will be in either Colchester or Ipswich which is too far for some to travel”.

The closure comes after Barclays axed 5,000 jobs worldwide in 2023 to "simplify and reshape the business".

According to the bank, the majority of individuals impacted by the job losses worked in the bank's support and UK chief operating officer functions as "management layers are reduced" and the group "improves its technology and automation capabilities".