BRACKNELL, Ascot and Wokingham have all lost a number of High Street banks in recent years, leaving residents without a local branch. 

Lloyd's, Natwest, HSBC and Barclay's are among the household names to pull out of the area, citing stats about consumers turning to online.

There are now just nine banks open in Wokingham, eight in Bracknell and none at all in Ascot. This is a stark contrast to the picture a decade ago.

Research suggests two thirds of people want to bank online but anecdotally, we asked our readers for their thoughts and they had a mixed opinion.

Counter research suggests that the in-person service is missed by communities such as the elderly and small businesses who perfer a more 'personal approach'. 

And although some towns have been lucky enough to retain branches, many people in suburban locations around Berkshire are now forced to travel miles in order to deposit cash or to access a variety of other services.

This week we asked our readers when the last time they visited a bank was to see whether there is truth to the now widely-cited research that a fifth of people haven't visited a bank since before the pandemic. 

Brian Tea, who lives locally but works in London, said: “Last Thursday so six days ago [was the last time I visited a bank in person]. [It was] nowhere near where I live, they’ve all been closed down but luckily there’s one near my office in London.”

Another reader added: “[It was] a long time ago because all the out-of-town banks have closed. I use a post office more often now. Such a shame you have to pay for parking if you want to go to the bank now.”

And when banks are still operating, opening hours can pose a challenge for those working full-time. Branches operating on limited working hours often close their doors in the afternoon preventing people from accessing their services.

Amil Rosy Lee Webster said: “I can't get to a bank in their opening times 9.30-3.30pm as I work, and bank don’t open weekends. I find it very frustrating as the things I need done can't been done over internet."

Rachel Sawyer has said that she hasn’t visited her local branch since before Covid due to the inaccessible hours on the high street and in other locations.

Due to the supposed lack of customers frequently each branch, banks such as Lloyds and Barclay’s have stopped providing specific services during the week.

For example, one customer from Bracknell was shocked to find that she was unable to deposit cash into her account on a Saturday afternoon.

Carol Balbi added: “I work all week so not able to go in as they shut at 3.30. So quite shocked when I went in to pay money into my account to be told "we don't take cash on Saturday " Not much point in being open then really.”

Smaller towns surrounding Bracknell have seen the situation drastically affect their lives over the last few years.

Elderly residents and small shops in Ascot were seriously affected when the last Barclay’s branch closed on Ascot High Street last year. This now means that if they require services that they are incapable of doing online, they are now forced to travel to Bracknell or Windsor.

  • Have you been impacted by bank closures in Bracknell, Ascot or Wokingham? Email nicole.mcbride@newsquest.co.uk.