Barclays are to shut a Excessive Avenue department after it emerged there is just one common buyer who does all his banking there.
Though different individuals use the department on Tower Bridge Street in Bermondsey, south east London, solely Peter Wisby, 84 makes use of it for all his banking.
Mr Wisby, who misplaced his leg in a 2003 motorcycle accident, has by no means used the web and would not have a smartphone.
He struggles with mobility and the closure will depart him and his spouse Eileen, 81, with a two mile journey to the 2 remaining nearest branches.
Peter Wisby (proper) and spouse Eileen (left) have by no means used the web and refuse to make use of a money machine as a result of it’s ‘too harmful’
The branches on Borough Excessive Avenue and Rye Lane, in Southwark, are far past walking-distance, as is the Fenchurch Avenue department close to Whitechapel.
Final week, a reporter attending the financial institution noticed at the least six individuals queuing to make use of its companies, nearly all of whom have been ready to talk to a member of workers on a until.
The couple already needed to financial institution additional away from residence when the Southwark Park Street Barclays closed a number of years in the past.
They won’t take cash out from a gap within the wall ‘as a result of they’re too harmful.’
Neither Mr or Mrs Wisby have ever used the web they usually refuse to attempt on-line banking.
Probably the most up-to-date piece of expertise they’ve is Eileen’s cell which she will be able to ‘nearly ship a textual content on.’
Each concern being scammed and fear that shifting to on-line and cell banking makes them extra susceptible.
A Barclays member of workers usually does all of the work for them however Mr Wisby says the financial institution is mendacity when it says he’s the one common buyer.
He mentioned: ‘They only inform a pack of lies. They are saying individuals aren’t utilizing the banks however it’s as a result of they’re placing obstacles in the way in which on a regular basis.
‘For instance, they hold closing the tills with individuals on and telling us to make use of the machines, I say I am not going to make use of the machines as a result of I’m placing you out of labor.
‘Over the past yr they intentionally shut the tills down, after which reluctantly they are going to open the until once I kick up a fuss.
‘They need to drive us onto playing cards as a result of it is of their pursuits.
‘They mentioned in a letter that “it is in our curiosity”. Effectively how in God’s title is it in our curiosity in the event you shut it down?
‘I mentioned to the ladies who work there: “What are you going to do after they shut it down?”
‘They mentioned they have been promised it would not get shut down, however certain sufficient, they’ve to go away now.
‘You get lots of people they usually simply have a pure aptitude with a keyboard and I’ve by no means tried on-line banking, I refuse to do it.’
Mrs Wisby defined it will be actually tough for both of them to get to the following closest branches.
She mentioned: ‘They mentioned within the letter it was Borough Excessive Avenue or Fenchurch Avenue, there is no approach we are able to get to both one each week.
‘I may use the Submit Workplace to get cash out however we can’t use machines as a result of it is too harmful.
‘However that is solely somewhat Submit Workplace, so what in the event that they shut that one down?
Though different individuals use the department on Tower Bridge Street in Bermondsey (pictured), south east London, solely Mr Wisby makes use of it for all his banking
‘They’re attempting to drive this banking on-line on us, I’ve received a cell that my grandkids purchased me, and I can use it to textual content.
‘They mentioned they’d present me the right way to financial institution on-line on it, I mentioned “no approach”.’
They have been just lately the victims of a rip-off, involving somebody utilizing their account to purchase a whole lot of kilos price of products on-line from Simply Eat and Debenhams.
Peter mentioned: ‘The opposite week [we] have been wanting on the financial institution assertion learn out and it had £150 Simply Eat and £150 Debenhams, each on-line, and we do not use on-line.
‘The extra you employ the system the banks are forcing on us the extra it is easy for individuals to do fraud.’
A Barclays spokesperson mentioned: ‘We do have a couple of buyer who makes use of the department to undertake their banking.
‘Nonetheless, now we have recognized that just one buyer makes use of this department often as the one approach wherein they work together with us. i.e. they don’t financial institution by phone, on-line or by cell or use another branches.
‘Our prospects’ behaviour has modified considerably lately, with the bulk now selecting on-line banking.
‘That is mirrored at Bermondsey Tower Bridge Street department, and as we adapt, we’re discovering new methods to help our prospects by sustaining our neighborhood presence with choices for patrons who nonetheless require in-person help.
‘We plan to open a Barclays Native – a pop-up cashless banking web site the place prospects can meet a colleague face-to-face for banking help, as they might in a department and with out the necessity to journey.
‘We’re at the moment working with the area people to establish an acceptable location and can announce particulars as soon as confirmed.’