A BANK is to close four branches in Southampton, after bosses took the “difficult” decision to merge them into one.

A message was sent to online customers announcing that branches of HSBC at Southampton University, Shirley Road, London Road and High Street will close, with a new “flagship branch” due to open on Above Bar Street.

A spokesperson for the bank said that members of staff who work at the branches will transfer to other outlets in the area.

When asked by the Daily Echo whether any staff in Southampton would lose their jobs, the spokesperson declined to comment further.

Customer Richard Lyons, 28, of Millbrook, Southampton, said he was disappointed by the way the news was announced without warning or consultation.

He said: “It was a general message that has been sent out and there was no warning. It was the first thing that I have read about it.

“Was there a need to close them definitely or could they adjust opening times?

“It’s probably going to have a cost because there are some things you can’t do online, and will that cause queues to build?”

The letter to customers says that the growth of telephone and internet banking has resulted in some branches receiving less use.

On this basis the decision was taken to close the branches and form the new flagship Above Bar Street site.

The outlets at Southampton University, London Road and Shirley Road will close on Friday, December 5, while the High Street outlet will close the following day.

The new branch at 55 Above Bar Street will open at 9am on Monday, December 8.

An HSBC spokesperson said: “In common with other high street banks, footfall in our branches has fallen dramatically and is accelerating. We have seen a 30 per cent reduction in customer footfall over the last four years.

“Decisions like this are never easy, but we worked with the small number of customers who use the branch to help them reorganise their finances ahead of the closures.

“All our personal customers have access to their accounts, to withdraw and pay in cash, at any UK post office and all residents within the areas will continue to have access to other banking facilities in the town and several ‘fee free’ ATMs within the local area.

“The members of staff who man the branch will transfer to other HSBC branches in the area.”