Customers of HSBC’s Towcester Branch have been shocked at news that the bank is to close in August 2015.

Liberal Democrat, Councillor Catharine Tarbun who represents Towcester Mill, which includes the town centre, said: “It was quite a shock to learn that HSBC is to close. This is another blow to Towcester’s town centre.”

Councillor Martin Johns adds: “This is very disappointing news for Towcester. HSBC is in a key location in the town, moving their customers to a branch in Northampton will be very inconvenient and will have a knock-on adverse effect on other businesses in the town. With the increasing trend towards online banking, high street banks are struggling. I think this closure says more about problems within HSBC than Towcester as a high street destination. However, the loss of yet another business to the town centre will have a negative effect on the town.”

Councillor Chris Lofts comments: “This closure again demonstrates that both the town and district councils need to be doing more to help sustain our town centre. The Liberal Democrats are already in discussion with SNC about helping support our town centre in a more robust way.”

Banking first started on this site as far back as 1781. This was the bank run by local wool merchant and banker John Jenkinson. What became the Midland Bank opened in 1921 until the bank was acquired by HSBC in 1992.