Barclays in Ledbury is to close after transactions fell by almost half in the past two years.

The bank will close on October 5, meaning the nearest Barclays branches will be in Hereford, Leominster, Cheltenham and Worcester.

“This branch will be permanently closed from 12pm on Wednesday, October 5, 2022,” Barclays said in a statement on its website.

“We’ll continue to be part of your community in Ledbury. We’re just finalising the arrangements of where and when our colleagues will be to support you, and as soon as they are confirmed we’ll share the details.”

Barclays said only 28 customers use the Ledbury branch exclusively for their banking.

It said 25 per cent of Ledbury’s customers were also using other nearby branches and that there had been a 12 per cent rise in people doing their banking in other ways - either online or on the phone.

Cash withdrawals at Ledbury bank fall by half

“The number of counter transactions has gone down in the previous 24 months, and additionally 85% of our branch customers also use other ways to do their banking such as online and by telephone.”

Weekly counter transactions for personal customers fell from 407 between April 2019 and March 2020 to 234 in the same period two years later – a fall of 43 per cent.

Cash withdrawals at the Ledbury branch, which currently opens four days a week, have also fallen by almost half over the past two years.

READ MORE: Fears that Ledbury's 'bank drain' will continue as Barclays reduces opening hours

There will still be cash machines available in Ledbury town centre, including at the Post Office at One Stop in The Homend, which also offers some banking services.

Barclays said a booklet will be made available in the Ledbury branch prior to its closing, in which it will share concerns and feedback from the local community, as well as details on how it is helping people transition to other ways of carrying out their banking.