The national Federation of SubPostmasters has reassured Halesowen residents that access to banking services in the town will continue even after a branch of a major bank closes its doors today.

The town's branch of Barclays on Queensway will shut its doors for the final time this afternoon, following a similar move at the Cooperative on Hagley Street at the end of last year. However alternative banking provision is available to local residents at post office branches nearby.

Each of the three branches local to the town offer banking services, including deposits of up to £2,000 cash per transaction, free cash withdrawals and balance checks. Other services include face-to-face access to government services, bill payment, foreign currency, travel insurance and, of course, postal services. There are currently 2,000 free-to-use ATMs installed across the UK post office network as well.

Convenient branches for residents include the branch in Halesowen Town Centre, Hawne Post Office on Stourbridge Road and Manor Lane Post Office. A spokesperson for the Federation said:

"Post offices are proving vital to retaining people’s and business’s access to cash as the banks continue to desert the high street in order to cut costs and increase their profits. 

"Every post office plays a vital role within the heart of the local community. Post offices provide a reliable and essential service which has continued at a high standard across the whole of the UK throughout the pandemic."

For further information about your local Post Office, you can head online to postoffice.co.uk.