HSBC is set to cut its opening hours at more than 100 bank branches.
The banking giant first reduced its opening hours during the Covid pandemic, but it has confirmed plans to make some of the changes permanent.
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Some 122 branches will see their hours reduced, with opening times at some sites cut by as much as 30%, MoneySavingExpert reports.
HSBC said 148 sites will increase their opening times by 30 minutes a day, and there will be no changes at 171 branches.
The bank has 441 branches across the UK, but has been reducing the number of sites it operates over recent years.
In March, the firm revealed plans to close another 69 branches permanently this year.
The move followed 82 HSBC branches closing last year and 27 in 2020.
The bank blames reduced footfall for the changes. More customers are using online and app-based banking instead of their local branch.
This trend has accelerated since the Covid lockdowns, when many businesses were forced to close their high street stores.
It is not the only bank to close branches. Just last week, Barclays confirmed it would close another 27 sites this year, bringing its total number of closures to 103 for 2022.
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What will the new opening hours be?
From this month, 172 “cash service branches” HSBC branches will be open from 9.30am until 3.30pm on weekdays, and be will closed at weekends.
A further 163 branches will be open from 9.30am until 4.30pm on weekdays, and from 9.30am until 1.30pm on Saturdays.
These will be a mixture of “digital service” branches (counterless sites which offer self-service technology) and “full service” branches, which offer a full range of services.
Meanwhile, 105 branches will be open from 9.30am until 4.30pm on weekdays, and will be closed at the weekend. These are also a mix of digital and full service sites.
Just one branch, Gerrard Street in London, will be open on Sundays, from 11.30am until 3pm.
HSBC said 148 of its cash service branches will increase their opening hours by 30 minutes.
But 96 full service branches will reduce their opening hours by 60 minutes.
Some 24 cash service branches and two digital service sites will see their hours reduce by 30%. Customers of these branches will be contacted.
The Sun has contacted HSBC for comment. You can find your nearest branch with its online tool.
Full list of sites where hours will be cut by 30%
- Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.
- Barkingside, London.
- Beverley, Yorkshire.
- Canary Wharf, London.
- Christchurch, Dorset.
- Cirencester, Gloucestershire.
- Dartford, Kent.
- Dumfries, Dumfries and Galloway.
- Epsom, Surrey.
- Folkestone, Kent.
- Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
- Hertford, Hertfordshire.
- Hitchin, Hertfordshire.
- Hornchurch, London.
- Lowestoft, Suffolk.
- Meadowhall, Yorkshire.
- Paignton, Devon.
- Penrith, Cumbria.
- Port Talbot, Neath Port Talbot.
- Selby, Yorkshire.
- St Austell, Cornwall.
- Tonbridge, Kent.
- Trowbridge, Wiltshire.
- Wallington, London.
- Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.
- Weymouth, Dorset.
HSBC is not the only banking group to reduce opening times.
Santander recently announced plans to cut its hours at hundreds of branches.
The changes mean most sites will operate from 9.30am to 3pm on weekdays, instead of until 4.30pm, from July.
The shake-up will see 316 of its 450 branches close at 12.30pm on Saturdays instead of 4pm.
Elsewhere, we’ve looked at how you can get £170 in free cash just by switching bank account.
And a major change to Premium Bonds might have made it easier to win.
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This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk
