Barclays community banking launches in Stanhope

Louise Jackson, customer care leader at Barclays, and Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County Council's Cabinet member for rural communities, highways, and community safety, outside the Durham Dales Centre.

From this week, Barclays staff will be based at the Durham Dales Centre, which is owned by us and managed by our business support service, Business Durham.

The Durham Dales Centre, based in the heart of Weardale, offers a range of services such as visitor information and business office space, as well as attractions for visitors including a tearoom, gardens, and gift shop.

Community space

From this week, Barclays customers will be able to access a new community banking space located in the interview room within the Durham Dales Centre shop, which will provide a range of in-person services, such as help and support, from the bank's staff.

The community space will be available on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10am until 4.30pm, with banners displayed at the shop outlining the space's opening times.

The space has been secured through work between Business Durham, Barclays, and local members. 

Rural banking

Cllr John Shuttleworth, Durham County our Cabinet member for rural communities, highways, and community safety, said: "We are pleased that we have been able to utilise the flexibility of space within the Durham Dales Centre to enable this new community banking space for Barclays customers in Weardale.

"As a rural area, many residents use in-person services related to their bank, so we have worked collaboratively with Barclays to make this space available so it can continue offering some of these services."

Flexible services

Geoff Watson, Barclays customer care director said: "Barclays is committed to deploying a range of more flexible ways in which customers can physically interact with the bank. This includes over 200 pop-up banking sites located in town centres, plus presence in spaces such as community centres, libraries and business hubs where it offers drop-in and pre-booked appointments.

"We're delighted we've been able to agree the replacement banking service here in Stanhope. This represents our commitment to customers and the local community who wish to continue to have an in-person banking presence by offering the ability to visit Barclays on their local high street, albeit in a different environment."