A BRANCH of HSBC in Trafford Park is one of almost 70 set to close in 2022, the bank has announced.

The closures of the branch on Village Way, next to the Village Metrolink tram stop, and at 68 other sites across the UK come after a total of 82 closures last year.

According to HSBC, the reason for the decision is a move to online banking, with less than 50 per cent of customers using a branch in person on a regular basis.

The nearest branch of the bank for customers in Trafford from October is to be the city centre, followed by Altrincham, with the branch in Didsbury also to close.

HSBC said the 400 or so staff affected by the decision should be retained and then redistributed in the area.

Jackie Uhi, head of the bank's branch network, said: "The way people bank is changing – something the pandemic has accelerated. Our branches continue to support people with their more complex banking needs, but the way we can do this has also evolved, with the addition of banking hubs, community pop-ups and continued use of the Post Office network.

"Rather than a 'one-size-fits-all' branch approach, it is an approach built around the way different customers are choosing to bank in different areas."

Here is the list of closures:

JULY
City of London – July 19
Westfield Stratford City – July 19
New Bond Street – July 19
Cambridge Hills Road – July 21
Moorgate – July 21
Angel Islington – July 21
Gloucester Road – July 26
Monmouth – July 26
Perth – July 26
Hammersmith – July 28
Merry Hill – July 28
Woking – July 28

AUGUST
East Grinstead – August 2
Peckham – August 2
Farnham – August 2
Beaconsfield – August 4
Street – August 4
Lymington – August 4
Sidcup – August 9
Thame – August 9
Hoddesdon – August 9
Birmingham, Harborne – August 11
Londonderry – August 11
Uckfield – August 11
Leyland – August 16
Omagh – August 16
Borehamwood & Elstree – August 16
Golders Green – August 18
Stowmarket – August 18
Eltham – August 18
Wellingborough – August 23
Amersham-on-the-Hill – August 23
Bishop Auckland – August 23
Ashby-de-la-Zouch – August 25
Woodbridge – August 25
Thornbury – August 25

SEPTEMBER
New Malden – September 1
Hartlepool – September 1
Keynsham – September 1
Pinner – September 6
Dewsbury – September 6
Barking – September 6
Newmarket – September 8
Billericay – September 8
Beckenham – September 8
Sidmouth – September 13
Burgess Hill – September 13
Daventry – September 13
Nottingham, West Bridgford – September 15
Ellesmere Port – September 15
Strood – September 15
St Annes-on-Sea – September 20
Ringwood – September 20
Pontefract – September 20
Ilkeston – September 22
Petersfield – September 22
Whitehaven – September 22
Hampstead High Street – September 27
Inverness – September 27
Wandsworth – September 27
Manchester, Didsbury – September 29
Bristol, Whiteladies Road – September 29
Shirley – September 29

OCTOBER
Herne Bay – October 4
Manchester, Trafford Park – October 4
Cardiff, Canton – October 4
Falmouth – October 6
Bootle – October 6

TBC
Kingston-upon-Thames