Barclays Chat šŸ¦…

Revolut are digital only. Cash machines and card dispensers don’t count for anything.

Shows though, the high street alts must be concerned and need a way to be ahead of the game, as the digital folk will look for the best digital offering.

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Where was this concern for Monzo and Starling though? they’ve been around for a long time with a full banking license alongside Revolut :thinking: Or is this an admission that Barclays and the big banks have been very much scared of Revolut for a long time, hence delaying Revolut from getting their full license for as long as possible :thinking:

Either way with confidence, not a hope this is gonna get people back to Barclays and high street banks, the shift of trust has already begun. Monzo, Starling and Revolut paving the way

Starling and Monzo aren’t global, Barclays and HSBC have to consider this, being in multiple markets which Revolut is absolutely smashing.

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Either way whatever collective team in Barclays thought regressing was/is the solution is about to learn a very tough lesson

They may steal the branch customers who prefer face to face, so it’s a smart move tbh.

We have a couple of large branches nearby. Used them a number of times and they’ve been excellent. Also used their services at local venues and they’ve been equally good.

Agreed, though I do think we’ll slowly see that attitude gradually shift as customer service is properly improved with the digital banks. But for now yes

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Before the closed the Barclays branch near me, the people that worked there said some days they don’t see anyone :joy:.

Not sure bringing physical branches will do anything now. They were closed for a reason. Sure, some older people still prefer banks but that’ll go completely when they die.

I can’t remember the last time I went into a branch. I think it was with Halifax after multiple attempts of ā€œfailing securityā€ when my mobile cut out. Got to be over 20 years ago now.

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I think it will shift as older generations go and their offspring and offspring of their offspring begin to gain trust in the digital banks. People in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s shift to digital they’ll encourage their offspring to do the same and it will have a rolling effect, but again some will still be cautious and encourage the younger generation to stay with traditional brick and mortar banks. At least until customer service improves, but once that happens I think there’s the potential for that shift to slowly erode the high street banks attractiveness.

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I can’t say I’ve ever noticed a branch NOT busy in London..

Branches are not always about volume, so if you judge a quiet branch as being under purposed - you’re severely underestimating the high net worth businesses and clients who rely on a person contact for specific transactions or processes.

This is exactly how private banking locations work, such as Coutts etc

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It does make me wonder what Revoluts Private banking will look like since they announced a while back their intention to enter private banking. Unless they were to open up their offices to the financial elite and allow them to come in and talk to someone face to face which I wouldn’t put out of the question

Barclays closed the branch in my town and now use a corner of the local library for a few hours. I’ve not been there so no idea if they can do everything a branch did.

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Surely they see what Nationwide are doing in terms of branches (and the numbers who have moved to them where they are the last in town) and responding to that? Even though digital banks are increasingly popular, there are always stories with research that show that even young people want the physical access option.

Switching statistics are skewed by the switching bonuses/bribes, and by Nationwide’s Fairer Share bonus. So it’s impossible to know whether people are switching to Nationwide because they still have branches open, or just for the money.

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Indeed, I wouldn’t rely on a single dataset. You do see it on plenty of forums and comments and other places where people have said they have moved to the last place left in town. There’s usually only one of those (likely Nationwide).

I think this has less to do with Revolut etc but more that Barclays believe they have gone too far with their branch closures.

Slightly dated stats but you can see Barclays has the smallest branch footprint of the big banks by quite a margin while several others have already paused their branch closures programmes (HSBC) and/or are involved in takeovers (Santander) which will actually increase the number they have.

Got a text to say I qualify for the switch bonus today :grinning_face_with_smiling_eyes: might even open a cash ISA with them as the premier rate seems pretty good.

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How long did that take? I ticked all the boxes last week but no text yet.

The transfer in completed on the 1st April, and I’d paid in Ā£4k a few days before that.

My little town on the outskirts of London has one of those banking hubs where a bank runs it one day a week.

The only bank left in town is nationwide.