In a move to “standardise” opening hours across its network, Barclays confirmed that the majority of branches would operate between 9:30am and 3pm during weekdays.

It said this is to tie in with when the majority of visits take place – 96% during 9:30am to 3pm.

Currently across its 400+ network, branches close between 2:30p and 5:30pm, meaning that the majority will see their opening hours slashed from 7 August.

However, there are a small number of branches this won’t apply to, for instance where branches are located in shopping centres as Barclays has lease agreements here.

Some branches also close for a day mid-week, but Barclays confirmed branches will open five days a week (Monday to Friday).

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Meanwhile counter services will continue to be closed on Saturdays, but their opening times during the week will increase to align with the 3pm branch closure time.

Currently counter services close earlier than branch operating times at some locations, meaning for the majority of stores, counter hours will increase.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “Our new midweek opening hours of 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday will bring consistency to branches across the UK, reducing confusion and ensuring we are open during the times customers visit most.

“These changes also include aligning our counter service to opening hours midweek, so our counter is open until the branch closes. Customers, including SMEs, can continue to bank outside these hours across a range of channels including the Barclays app, our telephony service and via video banking appointments.”

Further Barclays branches set to close

Barclays has flagged 12 branches set to close this August. This is on top of the 15 confirmed last week, taking its 2023 closure announcement number past the dismal milestone of 100, standing at 111.

However, all together this year, a total of 122 Barclays branches will disappear (or already have) from local high streets in 2023, once factoring in branch closures announced towards the end of 2022.

At the end of last year, it had a branch network of 481, meaning a quarter of branches are set to go in 2023.

Here are the latest 12 branches set to disappear:

• 29/30 High Street Windsor England SL4 1PQ 23/08/2023
• 6 Market Place Harleston England IP20 9AE TBC
• 14 Market Hill Diss England IP22 4JU 23/08/2023
• 27 Market Hill Framlingham England IP13 9AW 25/08/2023
• 41 Market Place Newark England NG24 1EJ 17/08/2023
• 30/32 Bridge Street Worksop England S80 1JB 24/08/2023
• 35 Frederick Street Birmingham England B1 3HH 18/08/2023
• 351/359 Soho Road Birmingham England B21 9SE 24/08/2023
• 18 Stony Street Frome England BA11 1BX 23/08/2023
• 9 The Bulwark Brecon Wales LD3 7AF 25/08/2023
• 45 High Street Biggleswade England SG18 0JF 18/08/2023
• 59 Grove Street Wilmslow England SK9 1ER 25/08/2023.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “As visits to branches continue to fall, we need to adapt to provide the best service for all our customers. Where there is no longer enough demand to support a branch, we maintain an in-person presence though our Barclays Local network, live in over 200 locations, based in libraries, town halls, mobile vans and our new banking pods. We also support access to cash with our cashback without purchase service, 24-hour deposit-taking ATMs and by working alongside the Post Office and Cash Access UK.”

Related: An in-depth guide to your rights when your bank branch closes