HSBC is set to close its branch in Twickenham, following Barclays and NatWest out of the town, and so creating a 'bank desert'.

The closure of the branch – set for June next year - is among 114 branches set to pull down the shutters though the next 12 months.

The bank said it has seen a significant drop in customers coming into its branches over the last five years - an issue that was only made worse by the pandemic.

NatWest pulled out of the high street in May, while Nub News recently revealed that Barclays would be moving out of its iconic building in the centre of town by December 14.

The HSBC building is just a few yards away from Barclays and the loss of the two banks is a serious blow to the area, not least because it will reduce footfall.

An HSBC statement said: "The decline in branch use has accelerated so much since the Covid-19 pandemic that some of the branches closing are now serving fewer than 250 customers a week.

"The decision to close a branch is never easy or taken lightly, especially if we are the last branch in an area, so we've invested heavily in our 'post closure' strategy, including providing free tablet devices to selected branch customers who do not already have a device to bank digitally, alongside one-to-one coaching to help them migrate to digital banking."

Barclays justified its decision, saying: 'Only 15 customers use this branch regularly as the only way to do their banking'.

It said 34% of this branch's customers have used nearby branches in the last 12 months and 93% of people who use the Twickenham branch have also banked using the Barclays app, online and by phone in 2021.

Barclays has suggested it will try and move some face-to-face banking services to an alternative hub, however it is now clear where this will be.

The consumer group, Which?, has raised concerns that this loss of accessible local branches and their cash machines makes it increasingly difficult for people to get free access to their own money.

Many believe this could unfairly impact certain pockets of society such as those without internet access or the elderly who can sometimes struggle with technology.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK's managing director of UK distribution, said: "People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning. Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us.

"Branches will continue to play an important role in day-to-day banking, while providing specialist face-to-face support in moments that matter.

"In addition to our branch network, customers can access services through the Post Office network, our community pop-ups and soon-to-come banking hubs, alongside Live Chat, social media and through telephone banking.'