Halifax on Winchester High Street to close next year

Halifax, which has operated at 129 High Street for more than 30 years, will close to customers on January 20.

A Halifax spokesperson said: “As many customers now choose to bank through their mobile app or online, visits to our Winchester branch have fallen over recent years. 

"The local Post Office offers everyday banking, with cash also available at close by free-to-use ATMs. Customers can also manage their money through our mobile banking apps, online, by calling us or speaking to a Community Banker.”

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Halifax has been at 129 High Street for over 30 years (Image: Sebastian Haw) On its website, the bank, which is a subsidiary of Lloyds Banking Group, explained: "Before we close any branch, we look at how our customers are managing their money and using the branch. Most customers are now using our Mobile Banking app, Online Banking or calling us instead.

"This means they are using branches, including our Winchester branch much less. Because of this, we'll be closing our Winchester branch. We’ll explain more about how we made our decision, and how customers are using this branch on the following pages."

The bank recorded just 244 customers in the 12-month period ending in April 2024, a 61 per cent decrease from the same period ending in April 2019.

Moreover, almost 80 per cent of its customers are 35 or above.

The number of cash machine transactions has also suffered a steep decrease over the past five years with 48 per cent fewer withdrawals from the branch.

This comes as a "troubling" spate of bank closures across the UK has left many parts of the country without any walk-in branches at all.

Earlier this year, The Guardian reported that the number of bank closures over the past nine years has passed 9,000.

By the end of the year this trend may leave 33 parliamentary constituencies – including two in London – without a single branch.

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The bank which has shut the most branches is Barclays, although its Winchester branch has so far withstood the onslaught of closures.

In response to being named the individual bank that had shut the most branches, Barclays said: “As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers.

"Where levels of demand don’t support a branch, we maintain an in-person presence through our Barclays Local network, live in over 350 locations, based in libraries, town halls, mobile vans and our banking pods.”