Barclays is set to close two more Kent branches this summer with another already shut down.

The company is shutting its Dover and Faversham branches in June and August respectively with Strood closing earlier this month.

The bank says it has seen a huge fall in counter transactions and reduced numbers of people using branches solely for their personal or business banking.

In Faversham, just 144 customers now use the branch exclusively for all their banking. Meanwhile, in Strood this was found to be just 67 and in Dover 77.

Counter transactions at Faversham have also fallen over the last two years with 82% of customers now banking online and by telephone and 36% using other nearby branches, say bosses.

In Dover, the trend was repeated as it was found to be 87% using other banking methods and 24% visiting other branches.

But in Strood it was found to be 89% and 54%.

Cash withdrawals, cash deposits and cheque deposits for personal customers also all fell between 19% and 27% in March 2020 compared to two years previous in Strood.

Business banking in the branch fell further still with counter transactions falling by 35% and cash withdrawals (40%), cheque deposits (41%) and cash deposits (29%) all falling.

The banks are among 106 branches that Barclays announced last year were at risk of closure.

The Whitstable branch closed in January taking the total of Kent Barclays branches lost this year to four.

Customers are being advised about the closures and will be pointed to their nearest branch with counter services.

In a letter to customers, the bank says: “We are committed to support you and the community as much as we can, and will be contacting members of the community to understand any concerns they may have about the closure.”

But the closure has upset many Faversham residents.

Writing on the Faversham and Surrounding Villages Facebook page, Janet Burnell said: “This is my local branch as well. Really sad to hear this.

“I feel for all the local people who rely on this branch and will find it very difficult to get to another branch.”

Jo-Eleanor Matthews added: “Bad enough when HSBC left the town. This is ridiculous... who wants to go to Canterbury, pay parking and go to the bank after the fuel cost too?

“It’s eradicating human interaction. It’s so frustrating.”

Last year HSBC in Faversham was among 82 branches shut as part of the bank’s plans “to become a market-leading digital bank”.

It follows a nationwide trend, with 500 high street bank branches closed or earmarked for closure in the UK during 2021.

Santander is shutting 111, Lloyds closing 56 across its Lloyds, Halifax and Royal Bank of Scotland sites, TSB shutting 164, M&S losing 29 and NatWest closing six.

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