A BANK has pledged not to close its Manningtree branch for the next two years.

Barclays has promised this to branches in remote areas - or where it is the last bank in town.

The banking giant said the freeze on remote and “last bank in town” closures will see more than 100 branches ring-fenced so they remain until at least October 2021.

Manningtree’s mayor Ruth Stocks said she welcomes the news.

She said: “We are lucky to keep ours open for the next two years, and I hope this can be carried on after the two years are up.

“On the other hand, as a retired banker I can see where the bank is coming from.

“People are not coming into banks as much anymore.”

But Barclays is also exploring ways to boost demand in branches generally, starting initially with pilots in 12 areas in other parts of the country.

Barclays said it remains “committed to the Post Office framework” and customers and businesses will still be able to pay in cash, cheques and check their balance - but the facility for over-the-counter cash withdrawals will end from January 2020.

Cash withdrawal by cheque will still be available, subject to arrangement.

It is writing to affected customers about the changes.

Manningtree councillor Carlo Guglielmi said: “Most people bank online and there has been a massive decline in people using banks, but I am pleased that Barclays will keep its presence in High Street.

“It’s the only place to do banking and bill payments in the town and I have to commend Barclays for keeping it open.

“If we can keep it open for longer than two years, we will try to.”

Meanwhile, Barclays is trialling how it can work with customers and communities, including MPs, councillors and business groups, to see if customer demand can be increased, which would help to make branches more viable in the longer term.

The bank is also launching a new cashback scheme enabling people to withdraw money at small businesses - but said that from 2020 its customers will no longer have a facility which allows them to withdraw cash over the counter at Post Offices.

The bank’s new cashback scheme should make it easier for customers to withdraw money at businesses in remote towns and areas without a branch or ATM.

Adam Rowse, managing director of branch-based banking at Barclay, said: “By maintaining last-in-town or remote branches over the next two years, and working with the community, we hope to increase demand and keep these branches viable.”

“We also recognise that there are opportunities to support customers with access to cash where there is no branch or ATM nearby.

“We are launching a cashback offering working with merchants to give customers access to cash over the counter.”

Barclays’ new cashback scheme will enable customers to withdraw cash at businesses in remote towns and areas where there is no branch or ATM alternative within 1km.

It will launch in more than 200 locations from January 2020.