AN elected representative has launched a petition with the target of saving a bank branch from closure.

Vale of Clwyd MS Gareth Davies has launched a petition around pubs, shops, cafes and businesses in Denbigh to encourage local people to sign his pledge to save the HSBC branch in the town.

It was announced in November that the HSBC branch on Vale Street would close this summer as part of a series of 144 national closures by the banking giant, leaving residents with just one bank remaining in Denbigh.

Mr Davies said: "The people of rural areas such as Denbigh need accessible banking facilities, as not everyone can access a car or public transport to travel as far as Ruthin or Rhyl to do their banking with HSBC.

"That's why it's important we keep rural branches open to give everyone the opportunity to bank locally as the Denbigh branch has a big catchment area."

READ MORE: HSBC says Denbigh branch will be closed next summer

Mr Davies added: "I've launched my petition to businesses in the town to give local people the opportunity while they're shopping or having a drink, to have their say on the future of banking in the town and to send a message to HSBC that they need to change their minds, consider the people in rural communities better and keep the Denbigh branch open."

Residents can sign the petition online at https://www.garethdavies.wales/campaigns/save-hsbc-denbigh-petition

When making the announcement, HSBC said, over the past five years, use of the bank’s branch network by regular customers had fallen by 65 per cent.

HSBC says footfall in the vast majority - 74 per cent - of closing branches has reduced by at least 50 per cent.

The bank stated the decline in branch use has accelerated so much since the Covid-19 pandemic that some of the branches closing are now serving fewer than 250 customers a week.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s managing director of UK distribution, said: “People are changing the way they bank and footfall in many branches is at an all-time low, with no signs of it returning.

"Banking remotely is becoming the norm for the vast majority of us. Not only can we do it anywhere at any time of day or night, many more things can be done at the customers’ convenience and don’t rely on a branch visit.

“Branches will continue to play an important role in day-to-day banking, while providing specialist face-to-face support in moments that matter.

"In addition to our branch network, customers can access services through the Post Office network, our community pop-ups and soon-to-come Banking Hubs, alongside live chat, social media and through telephone banking.

“The decision to close a branch is never easy or taken lightly, especially if we are the last branch in an area, so we’ve invested heavily in our ‘post closure’ strategy, including providing free tablet devices to selected branch customers who do not already have a device to bank digitally, alongside one-to-one coaching to help them migrate to digital banking.”

The petition will be available to sign in all participating Denbigh businesses until Friday, February 3.