THE LAST bank in Machynlleth will disappear in September despite assurances just six months ago that there were “no plans” to close it.

Barclays Bank will close its doors in September, following the closure of NatWest in October last year, and HSBC before that, leaving town residents without a bank and facing a 12-mile trip to use services.

The move by Barclays, which also closed the only remaining high street bank in Llanidloes last year, has been described as “devastating”.

Barclays said the branch on Pentrerhedyn Street will close on 21 September after records show usage had fallen by eight per cent in the past two years, although the bank has only been open three days a week since January.

The closure means the nearest Barclays branch for Machynlleth residents will be in Tywyn, while customers will be able to access some services at the town Post Office.

In October last year, Machynlleth councillor Michael Williams said he “feared for the future” of the branch.

Cllr Williams warned the move to reduce hours at the bank “could signal a move to close the branch altogether”, but Barclays told the Cambrian News at the time that it had “no immediate plans to close our Machynlleth branch”.

Cllr Williams said the news that Barclays is now shutting is “absolutely shattering for the people of the town.”

“I warned this would happen and it has,” he told the Cambrian News.

“Big businesses really don’t care about services in rural communities – it’s a huge blow to the the town. It could have a serious effect on businesses and it’s devastating for residents.”

Ramona Enfield, Barclays community banking director for north Wales said: “The way customers undertake their banking is changing as people increasingly use online, telephone and mobile devices.

“At Barclays Machynlleth branch, customer usage has continued to decline, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close it.”

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