Sidmouth's HSBC bank will stay open, but may offer fewer services

Sidmouth's HSBC bank is not among those earmarked for closure.

The company has announced that it's shutting 82 branches around the country this year, including those in Chapel Street, Exmouth and the Strand, Torquay.

Staff are expected to be redeployed to other branches nearby.

The sites that do stay open are likely to change, offering fewer services.

Branches in larger towns and cities will retain a full counter service, while those in smaller communities will still have counters, but concentrate mainly on cash services.

There will also be self-service branches without counter staff, and temporary pop-up branches.

HSBC has not yet released details of which branches will be affected by these changes.

The nationwide closure programme will begin on April 23, with up to four branches shutting down each week until September 24.

Torquay's branch will close on May 28, and Exmouth's on August 13.

Closures are not a direct result of the Covid pandemic

Explaining the changes, HSBC said the number of customers using its branches has fallen by a third in the last five years, and 90 per cent of customer contact has been via the phone or online, including social media.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK's head of network, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has emphasised the need for the changes that we are making.

"It hasn't pushed us in a different direction but reinforces the things that we were focusing on before and has crystallised our thinking. This is a strategic direction that we need to take to have a branch network fit for the future."