A TOWN centre bank is set to close after customer numbers fell by more than half in a year.

The Great Harwood Barclays branch will shut up shop on Friday, November 13 with bosses saying customers fell by sixty percent between July 2014 and July 2015.

The closure of the Queen Street branch was revealed after a leaked memo from Barclays Bank was published in a national newspaper. The memo revealed the planned closure of 78 branches across the country.

Ward councillor Kerry-Anne Molineux said the closure would have a ‘real impact’ on the lives of residents.

Coun Molineux said: “The bank closing will be a great loss to the residents of Great Harwood and neighbouring towns who come to this branch, rather than the larger town centre ones.

“While it is understandable that busineses have to be profitable it will have a real impact on those residents who will now have to travel to do their banking.”

Claire Stewart, who owns nearby business The Sweetie Den, said: “It is a real shame. The branch is really handy for me to pop out to while in work if I need to draw money out or pay bills.

“I think it will also be an inconvenience for customers who may go elsewhere now.”

The closure follows the departure of Natwest in 2010 and leaves only Lloyds bank remaining in the town.

Kay Eccles, Community Leader for Barclays in Lancashire and Cumbria said the decision to close the branch ‘was not taken lightly’.

She said: “At Barclays Great Harwood branch, customer usage has continued to decline and more than 60 per cent of our customers now regularly use alternative branches, which is why we have taken the difficult decision to close the branch on Friday, November 13. This figure is even higher for business customers. We do not take the decision to close any branch lightly and we are committed to adhering to the new UK Government protocol on branch closures.

“All of our customers will receive a letter, posters will be displayed in branch and colleagues will be on hand to assist customers with any concerns they may have.”

She said alternative branches are available at Whalley and Accrington and customers can access services at the town Post Office.