Barclays U-turn: More branches to reopen after mass closures
Barclays is preparing to open more high-street branches again, a sharp barclays U-turn after 800 UK locations were shut. The move is aimed at restoring an in-person service for customers who still want to speak to staff rather than rely only on digital channels. Chief executive Vim Maru said the bank is responding to changing customer needs, including where people work, live and shop.
Barclays branch strategy shifts back to in-person service
The decision marks a major change in direction for Barclays after years of branch closures left towns with no physical banking facilities. Maru, who joined Barclays in 2023, said the bank is now looking to expand its number of in-person branches and bring back bank managers.
He said many customers still value physical presence and do not want to be trapped in a chatbot when they need help. “What we’re trying to do is something that allows us to differentiate in front of our customers. Of course we’re going to be great in digital – but we’re going to be there for you when you need some help and support. You’re not going to be stuck in some chatbot trying to get out of the loop and trying to speak to someone, ” Maru said in an interview with The Times.
He added: “The branch manager or bank manager is back. Most customers come in and they want to talk to the bank manager from time to time. ”
What Barclays says about the changes
, Maru said Barclays has already relocated some branches and extended opening hours, adding 33, 500 hours of in-branch availability per year. He said the bank is now looking to enhance and invest in its branch footprint alongside contact centres and its app.
The message is clear: Barclays is not walking away from digital banking, but it is no longer treating branches as disposable. The bank says it wants to balance technology with live support as customer preferences continue to shift.
barclays has left just 206 branches open across the UK after the closures, highlighting how much of the network has already disappeared.
Why the high street banking battle is changing
The backdrop is a wider retreat from Britain’s high streets, with banks closing branches as more customers move money online. Digital challengers such as Revolut and Monzo have intensified competition in the current account market, while larger banking groups have also continued cutting sites.
Earlier this year, Lloyds closed 71 branches across the UK. Consumer group Which? has said 218 bank branches are set to close across Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland in 2025 alone.
What happens next for Barclays
Barclays has not given a timetable for how many branches will reopen or where the next changes will land. For now, the bank is signalling a broader reset, one that puts branch access back into the mix after years of retrenchment. If the plan holds, barclays may become one of the clearest examples of a high-street lender trying to rebuild the human side of banking while keeping its digital push in place.
