Barclays PLC (BARC.L)

Barclays closures add to toll of vanishing British bank branches

Barclays (BARC.L) plans to close around 54 branches by the end of the year in an effort to cut costs, further reducing access to banking services for customers in parts of Britain. Barclays, which told customers about the planned closures in recent weeks still has around 1,300 branches across the country. Branch closures in Britain are disproportionately affecting lowest-income areas, taking bricks-and-mortar services away from communities where they are needed most, Reuters reported in June last year.