Seven NW branches included in banking giant’s plans to axe 82 sites
Seven HSBC bank branches are earmarked to close later this year as part of a wider closure plan by the high street bank involving a total of 82 sites.
Bosses said they will try and redeploy everyone affected by the plans which are linked to continued changes in customer behaviour.
A statement said the proposals were driven by “local market trends, customer behaviour and branch usage”.
If enacted, the plan would reduce the bank’s branch network to 511.
Branches identified for closure across the North West are Congleton High Street, Formby Chapel Lane, Chorley Market Street, in July, followed by Stockport Bramhall, Liverpool University, Clevelys Victoria Square in August, and Manchester Chorlton-cum-Hardy in September.
HSBC said that, of the 82 sites closing, 81 are within a mile of a Post Office, two-thirds are within five miles of another HSBC branch and nine in 10 are within 10 miles.
And the banking giant argued that, even before the impact of the pandemic was felt on the high street, the number of customers using branches had fallen by a third over the past five years.
According to the bank, 90% of all customer contact was now over the phone, internet or smartphone, while staff talk with more than 100,000 customers a week on social media.
Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s head of network, said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for the changes that we are making.
“It hasn’t pushed us in a different direction, but reinforces the things that we were focusing on before, and has crystalised our thinking.
“This is a strategic direction that we need to take to have a branch network fit for the future.”
The proposed closures will take place between April 23, and September 24.
