A NORTH Yorkshire MP has expressed his anger after an HSBC branch he was assured was safe is now one of dozens earmarked for closure.

Richmond MP Rishi Sunak wrote to HSBC last August to voice Wensleydale residents’ concerns that the Leyburn branch was due to shut following the Hawes branch closure.

He received written confirmation that the Leyburn branch was not at risk but it has now been revealed that it will shut as part of 62 branch closures on top of the 55 already announced by HSBC last year.

Mr Sunak said: “I feel let down and more importantly my constituents feel let down. 

“This is a real blow for Leyburn and lower Wensleydale.

The Northern Echo: SHOCKED: MP Rishi Sunak is angry after receiving assurances over the future of Leyburn’s HSBC branch

“While I did not and could not expect HSBC to give me a guarantee that the Leyburn branch was safe forever, the written response I had from the bank suggested it had no immediate plans to close it.

“Now just five months later they make this shocking announcement.”

The additional closures mean that a total of 117 HSBC branches will close in 2017, including branches in Consett, Team Valley, Stokesley, Kirkbymoorside and Easingwold.

Around 180 branch jobs are under threat, along with 204 IT jobs that could be lost as part of the bank’s plans to find significant savings by the end of this year.

HSBC says the branch network closures are being made due to a sharp rise in the number of customers using online banking as opposed to over-the-counter services.

According to the company, more than 90 per cent of its interactions with customers now come through digital means.

Francesca McDonagh, HSBC head of retail banking and wealth management for UK and Europe, explained: “More customers are using mobile and internet banking than ever before, innovation such as Touch and Voice ID has proved extremely popular, and fewer people are using branches.

“The decision to close these branches ensures a more sustainable branch network for the future as we continue to invest in our digital platforms and our people.”

Antonio Simoes, chief executive of HSBC Bank, said the branch cuts would draw a line under the company’s restructuring programme.

He added: “We now feel we have the right branch network that complements the other ways in which customers now choose to interact with us. 

“We will continue to invest for the benefit of our customers as we build HSBC UK, a better bank for our people and customers.”

HSBC is putting a number of measures in place to help customers, and already has a partnership with the Post Office so customers can continue to carry out their day to day banking in all 11,600 Post Office locations.

The following table lists the 62 branches HSBC has announced will close in 2017:


ALFRETON
HORNCASTLE
ALNWICK
KESWICK
AMMANFORD
KIDLINGTON
BALSALL COMMON
KIRKBYMOORSIDE
BEDWORTH
KNIGHTON
BLACKPOOL, BIRLEY STREET
LEYBURN
BLETCHLEY
LLANRWST
BRIGG
LUDLOW
BRISTOL COLLEGE GREEN
MAESTEG
BROMPTON ROAD
MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY
CARDIFF, CHURCHILL WAY
MARLBOROUGH
CARLISLE, KINGSTOWN ROAD
MIDSOMER NORTON
CARTERTON
NARBERTH
CASTLE BROMWICH
NEWQUAY
CASTLE DONINGTON
REDRUTH
CHASE TERRACE
RICKMANSWORTH
CHESHAM
SHAFTESBURY AVENUE
CHIPPING NORTON
STOKESLEY
COBHAM
SWINTON
CONSETT
SYSTON
COSHAM
TEAM VALLEY
EASINGWOLD
THORNE
FERNDOWN
TOTTON
FINCHLEY CHURCH END
WARMINSTER
FISHGUARD
WARWICK
GERRARDS CROSS
WATH UPON DEARNE
HASLEMERE
WEMBLEY PARK
HEDON
WEST BYFLEET
HEMSWORTH
WILLENHALL
HOLYHEAD
WOOD GREEN
HOLYWELL
WORLE