I was pleased to support a new Barclays banking service for Yorkshire which had its first outing at Flamingoland. The Barclays Van is aimed at taking the bank’s financial expertise on the road, by providing a face-to-face and accessible service for customers and clients living in remote and rural communities.
The Barclays Van will be parked up at towns and villages, hospitals, businesses, schools, libraries, village halls, and making appearances at shows and fayres across the county. Hosted by local Barclays colleagues, the Van will offer flexibility and convenience to those customers seeking more complex banking solutions right on their doorstep. Pre-booked appointments with local Barclays specialists will be available, helping customers thinking about buying a new home, set up a new business or perhaps save for the future.
In addition, the mobile banking service will deliver educational and digital awareness workshops for all ages. These will range from Barclays LifeSkills programme which provides skills needed for the world of work, Money Mentors for those requiring budgeting support, to top tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of a fraud or scam. They’ll also be digital expertise including how to use the Barclays app and staying safe online.
This is a really good initiative. It’s not always possible for people to get into a bank for advice if they live in rural areas, particularly in recent months with the coronavirus restrictions, so it will make life much easier for many people living in some of the most remote parts of North Yorkshire. In an increasingly digital age the educational side of this service will also be a huge benefit to people of all ages.
Steve Mullins, Barclays Market Director for Yorkshire, said: “I’m excited that we will be piloting a new Barclays face-to-face mobile banking service here in Yorkshire. Modern technology brings speed and convenience, which the majority of our customers choose to complement their busy lives, but there’ll always be important financial moments when customers prefer to have a conversation. The Barclays Van will provide us with this option and the opportunity to expand our existing footprint beyond the traditional branch network.”
The Barclays Van is fully accessible with a ramp for wheelchair users and is powered by solar power when stationary.
