TSB bank in Hadleigh set to face the axe as 164 branches across UK earmarked for closure

The Hadleigh branch of TSB has been earmarked for closure next year, as the bank announces plans to shut more than a third of its outlets nationwide.

The bank, located in the Hadleigh High Street, is set to close its doors to customers on May 6, after being named among 164 TSB branches across the UK to face the axe.

Bosses say the closures, which will leave the bank with just 290 branches nationally, were due to changing customer behaviour, which has seen a move towards online banking.

Debbie Crosbie, chief executive of TSB, said: “Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision, but our customers are banking differently – with a marked shift to digital banking.

“We are reshaping our business to transform the customer experience and set us up for the future.

“This means having the right balance between branches on the high street and our digital platforms, enabling us to offer the very best experience for our personal and business customers across the UK.

Trade union Unite said it had urged the bank to reconsider the plans, which they said would have a negative impact on staff and customers.

Dominic Hook, Unite national officer, said: “Unite has urged the bank to rethink these plans and protect these much-needed jobs during the current health pandemic.

“Not only do these staff deserve more from their employer after showing the utmost loyalty to TSB, customers will be deeply hit by these branch closures.

“Unite has argued that the financial services industry has a social responsibility not to walk away from its local customers, who continue to need access to bank branches.”