MP hits out at Barclays over Ellesmere Port closure

Ellesmere Port MP Justin Madders has slammed Barclays over a decision to close its in-person customer facility in the town centre.

Barclays promoted the financial advice service, located at Trinity Methodist Church, as a long-term alternative after shutting its nearby Whitby Road branch in 2023.

However, the ‘Barclays Local’ facility is now set to close on December 12th, leaving Lloyds as the only bank in Ellesmere Port town centre.

Mr Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough, said:

“Barclays has gone back on its assurance that face-to-face support would continue, which is deeply disappointing.

“Barclays’ customers are being pushed even further afield — to Chester or Birkenhead — for in-person banking support.”

Mr Madders added:

Barclays says only 13 people use the site as their primary contact, but in fact many rely on it alongside digital services.

“Residents describe it as a ‘lifesaver’. Older people and those with additional needs value being able to speak to a human being. I’m told there are often queues out the door.”

In publicity material, Barclays previously assured customers:

“We’ll stay in your community and you’ll be able to talk to us in person.” Mr Madders, who opposed the original branch closure, has received numerous concerns from residents.

Jean and Reg Barrett, from Great Sutton, have been Barclays customers for 64 years but don’t do online banking.

Jean, 85, said:

“It’s not for us at our age. We both wear glasses and it takes us a long time to get through things.”

She added:

“I don’t think they are looking after the elderly people.”

Reg, 90, who is concerned about other pensioners and people with additional needs, said:

“We’re not happy and it’s not only us.”

He prefers a personal service to online, explaining:

“There are so many scams doing the rounds.”

Another 90-year-old customer, who uses online banking on his tablet, still values face-to-face support:

“It’s very useful because there are a lot of things in the modern world that 90-year-olds struggle with.”

Barclays said visits to the site had declined. But Mr Madders, who has written asking the bank to revisit its closure decision, said the facility was both valued and affordable given the bank reported £5.2bn half-year profits.

In a letter to the MP, Barclays said:

“We regularly review our services and adapt to demand. As customers increasingly choose to bank digitally or through alternative in-person services such as Shared Banking Hubs, visits to our local sites have decreased.”

Pictured - Justin Madders, Labour MP for Ellesmere Port and Bromborough.