BANK branches across Berkshire that are due to close permanently later this year, have today confirmed the current lockdown closures are only temporary.

Barclays branches in Tilehurst, Caversham and Thatcham were due to shut down permanently later in the year due to a rise in online banking.

However, a spokesperson for the company has said the banks are only temporarily closed because of the pandemic and have not yet shut their doors permanently.

READ MORE: Tilehurst, Caversham, and Thatcham Barclays to close due to rise in online banking.

A Barclays spokesperson said: “Our priority is to support the health and safety of our colleagues and to help our customers in the best way possible.

“Since the restrictions on movement have been in place, we have noticed a significant decrease in the number of customers visiting us in branch and instead choosing to contact us on the phone or using the Barclays app.

“To reflect the change in demand, we have temporarily reduced the opening hours of all of our branches and closed some branches, this includes Tilehurst, Caversham and Thatcham.”

They continued: “We have redeployed branch colleagues to where they are needed most.

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“A number of our branch colleagues will instead be making calls to our most vulnerable customers to offer financial assistance, as well as answering incoming calls.”

The company added it is not possible to say when branches will be able to return to usual operating hours or re-open.

They explained they will “continue to follow government advice and re-open as soon as it is practical and safe to do so”.

The Tilehurst bank is expected to close on Friday, May 29, Thatcham will close on Friday, June 12, and in Caversham it will close on Thursday, June 4.