“Disgusted”: Last remaining Barclays Bank in Caerphilly County Borough to close its doors

Barclays Bank’s decision to close what will be its last remaining branch in Caerphilly County Borough has been branded ‘disgusting’ by an Ystrad Mynach councillor.

Cllr Martyn James also said the closure was “short-sighted”. It is the fifth branch closure Barclays has announced for the county borough in the past year.

Bargoed closed in April last year, Caerphilly in October, while Blackwood will close in March, and Risca will close in May. Ystrad Mynach is due to close in January 2025.

Statistics from Barclays claim 36 people use the bank in Ystrad Mynach “regularly”, as their only means of banking, and that 89% of customers also bank online.

Speaking to Caerphilly Observer, Cllr James said: “I’m disgusted to be honest. This is once again short-sighted thinking from the big banks.

“I believe the nearest Barclays Bank will now be in Newport or Cardiff. It’s far from convenient for residents, especially older residents who need to speak to someone face-to-face.”

After Barclays closed its Bargoed, and Caerphilly branches, it holds weekly drop-in sessions for customers at libraries. This will likely be the case for Ystrad Mynach and Blackwood. Risca is due to have a banking hub once Barclays closes there.

“The problem with the service at libraries is that you can’t carry out any cash transactions”, the Plaid Cymru councillor added. “I don’t know why these different banks can’t get together and share a building”, he said.

Once Barclays closes, the town will be left without a bank after NatWest closed in 2017 and Lloyds left in 2022.

Cllr James continued: “Ystrad has a busy high street and banks are one of the things that draws people in. I often see people in Barclays and this decision seems to go against everything we’re trying to achieve in terms of getting more footfall here.”

Caerphilly’s Labour Senedd Member, Hefin David, described the bank’s closure as “incredibly disappointing”, and is planning to meet with Barclays to discuss what will happen to its building.

Barclays Bank has said customers can email its deputy customer care director for Wales Alan March on alan.march@barclays.com to discuss their concerns or they can call 0345 7345345.