FURIOUS community leaders have been left counting the cost after a second bank announced it was pulling out of a market town leaving just one part time high street facility serving thousands of residents.

There was dismay in March when the NatWest in Bedale closed, now HSBC have revealed they will be closing in November and Barclays has announced reduced opening to three days a week.

The leader of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Carl Les, a local councillor, said it is a major blow.

“I’m very disappointed, especially after the investment HSBC made in recent years. I appreciate a lot of banking is now done electronically, but a bank presence is a sign of a vibrant economy and we don`t want to see empty buildings, even in the short-term.

“Bedale is a growing town, a gateway to the Dales. Council’s are having to consider sharing buildings, why don`t banks? It is very annoying that to save money to pay for previous catastrophic and dodgy dealings communities are losing their assets.

"High Streets need banks and similar services. They may be private sector, but they have a public responsibility to serve.”

There’s concern that elderly residents will be particularly badly hit as the nearest branches are in Northallerton, eight miles away, or Leyburn, ten miles away.

Hambleton District councillor John Noone said: "This has come out of the blue. It beggars belief that they haven’t even had a consultation period. We know a lot of people do internet banking, but this is a vibrant town and these are prime sites, which we don’t want leaving empty. We also have a lot of new houses so you would have thought that would have helped.”

Mayor Cllr Christine Mollard added:”It’s very disappointing but it is a sign of the times. Personally, I like to go into a bank and talk to staff and I think that applies to a lot of people. For a lot of elderly people it is going to make a big difference.”

A spokeswoman for HSBC said:”We never take the decision to close a branch lightly, and we understand it's unsettling for the local community.

"Unfortunately, use of the Bedale branch has fallen significantly. We are working with customers to help them understand their options, which include use of the Bedale Post Office. There are also a number of fee-free cash machines in the local area. In addition, we are working with our employees to find them roles in a local HSBC branch.”