Banks – revisited

The issue of bank service – or lack of it – is something discussed in this illustrious organ and I make no apology in returning to it now after a recent visit.

There are only 2 Barclays banks in the centre of  the city in which I live, one of which was closed for refurbishment.

I had to make an international payment and was advised this could be made by mobile.

This, despite several attempts, proved beyond me although I am certain I inserted the correct IBAN number.

I therefore emailed the personal Premier team to drop in for this to be done.

I duly appeared and when I went to first floor there was not a single person at the bank of computers where the team is normally located

Downstairs in the main banking hall there was one only one counter open with a queue  of some twenty customers.

When I questioned the lack of service I was told you need to make an appointment to see the Premier team (which I had done) but – because it was empty throughout the week – a decision had been made to reduce the counters.

The bank also rather inconveniently opens at 10.00am.

Clearly some bean counter high up had decided the future lies in digital banking.

When I finally was allocated an assistant he was dressed in a T-shirt and trainers and looked like something out of the student bar.

To be fair, he executed the transfer some 20 minutes after my arrival.

I wonder how much Barclays paid Simon Cowell for the Barclaycard advert.