The High Street branch of HSBC bank is to close on January 13, writes Seana Lanigan. The company said that in the past five years footfall had fallen by a third. The nearest HSBC branch will be in Hastings though the bank claims it has set up a partnership with the Post Office on Station Approach so that customers can still carry out day-to-day banking. The company did not respond to requests for information about what that partnership would entail.
As a customer of the local branch I am disappointed at the lack of local consultation – the only way to stop this national trend is to transfer your banking to another bank which does have a local branch, that way at least that banks footfall will increase and we might well strengthen the case for that bank to retain a high street presence !