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After closing its branch on Blackwood High Street in July this year, HSBC has announced it will be trialling a ‘pop-up’ branch in Blackwood once a week.

The pop-up will be based at Blackwood Library every Wednesday between 9.30am and 12pm, having started on October 4.

The trial will run until December 13.

HSBC has said the purpose of this trial is to see “how and where we can best support our customers throughout 2024 and beyond”.

Blackwood councillor Kevin Etheridge welcomed the news after “lobbying hard” for the return of the bank. Speaking to Caerphilly Observer he said: “I’m very pleased that they’ve listened. HSBC is a major bank that left some people travelling as far as Cwmbran for help.

“I want to get the message out there that the people of Blackwood need to use this service if we want the trial to extend into next year.”

Andy Ferns, HSBC UK’s local director, added: “The design of our branch network has evolved over the years from one that was purely based in physical branches, to one that encompasses a broader range of local support beyond the traditional bank branch, including pop-up branches that are arranged locally to address the needs in each local area.

“While our customers can use the local Post Office for day-to-day cash transactions, we are bringing a temporary pop-up branch to Blackwood, Pontypridd and Abergavenny to help HSBC UK customers with ‘in the moment’ banking support including opening of accounts, queries on or support with online or mobile banking.

“Customers can also continue to use online, mobile or telephone banking, and our live chat service is available 24/7.”

Earlier this year, the bank said usage of its branches by regular customers had fallen by 65% in the last five years, with a 50% reduction in footfall.

HSBC also said nine in ten customers now do their banking over the internet or telephone, with 99% of cash withdrawals made at an ATM.

Despite this, the bank now says it wants to “understand demand” for its service.