PLAID Cymru councillors from Denbigh, Ruthin and Llanrhaeadr joined Llyr Gruffydd to hand a 1,000-name petition to Barclays Bank officials today, urging them to keep branches in Denbigh and Ruthin open.

Both branches are due to close next month, leaving customers with no option but to travel to Mold, Rhyl or Llangollen if they wish to access a branch.

Llyr Gruffydd, AM for North Wales, said: “A thousand people put their names to this petition calling on Barclays to ensure that banking services will continue in both Denbigh and Ruthin. We know that this decision to close both branches is a commercial decision, however it's vitally important that the services provided by the bank is retained.

“People need to know that they can get advice and access their accounts over the counter, and small businesses and charities need access to coinage and to be able to bank cash on a regular basis. This is what we're asking Barclays to secure. Denbighshire has already seen the closure of many banks, and I'm concerned that people, especially the most vulnerable, are suffering because of these closures.”

Mr Gruffydd also said: “Barclays is effectively abandoning large parts of rural Wales and expecting those areas to conduct their banking by phone or broadband. This, as anyone who lives there knows, is just not possible in large swathes of the countryside.

“Furthermore I'm concerned that local businesses will see less borrowing opportunities which will impact on our local economy. It's important for these banks to understand that they have a duty towards our communities, because we're so dependent on banks for day to day activities such as direct payments for instance."

Glenn Swingler, counsellor for Denbigh Upper and Henllan, said: “These banks are driving their customers online, yet many communities in Denbighshire have very poor broadband, and not everyone is confident enough to carry out their transactions online.

“Both the Westminster and Cardiff Governments need to step up and develop a community bank for Wales so that our communities can access banking services on the High Street.”

Denbigh resident and petition signee, Steven Jones, said: " I am absolutely disgusted that Barclays would close 2 branches so the closest branch would be a 25 mile round trip. Barclays made 1.68 billion pounds in the first 3 months of 2017 clearly customer service means nothing ."

Kaylie Edwards, also from Denbigh, said: " I will have to move all my bank accounts from Barclays when they go, as I wont be able to put cash in immediately if there is an emergency where my funds are running low or didnt have enough to pay a bill.

“It’s all well and good using the post office to put money in – but the wait of up to two days for it to show on account is worrying. It means I would have to take time off work to get a bus to Rhyl to put money in. It isn’t a good option.”