TSB customers urged to use post office as Prestwich branch closes

The move follows previous announcements from the bank that 153 of its branches would be scheduled for closure in 2021.

TSB has said that it will open new "pop-ups" that will support customers with banking services such as making payments, getting help with products, and help with bereavements.

Some are being launched in April, with others to follow by the summer.

They will operate one day a week in local communities, based in third party locations such as libraries, town halls, community centres and business centres.

The pop-ups across England, Scotland and Wales are mainly based in locations where it would take customers more than 20 minutes to travel to their nearest TSB branch.

However, none of these are expected to open near the closed Prestwich branch.

"This closure will doubtless be disappointing to TSB’s customers in Prestwich," said Ruth Buckley-Salmon, research officer with The National Federation of SubPostmasters. "However, alternative banking provision is available to local residents at post office branches nearby.

"The nearest post offices to the closing TSB bank, Prestwich branch are the ones on Kingswood Road, Bury Old Road and Sandy Lane.

"Each of these branches offers banking services, including deposits, free cash withdrawals and balance checks, as well as offering face-to-face access to government services, bill payment, foreign currency, travel insurance and, of course, postal services. There are currently 2,000 free-to-use ATMs installed across the UK post office network also.

"Post offices are proving vital to retaining people’s and business’s access to cash as the banks continue to desert the high street in order to cut costs and increase their profits.

"Every post office plays a vital role within the heart of the local community. Post offices provide a reliable and essential service which has continued at a high standard across the whole of the UK throughout the pandemic."