A SOUTHAMPTON bank will be closing its doors for good this year.

Barclays and Lloyds Banking Group, which includes Halifax and Bank of Scotland, had announced more than 60 branch closures between them.

The Halifax branch on Shirley Road at the Gordon Buildings will be one of the branches closing this year.

The bank will close on September 26.

Branches in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are set to be closed as part of the latest cull by the banking giants.

The rapid closure of the UK’s banking network comes as more and more people choose to almost exclusively use online banking, rather than visiting a branch.

Lloyds said that across its brands more than 20 million customers regularly use online banking, and that visits to the 53 branches it is shutting have dropped by an average of 55 per cent in the last half-decade.

The worst hit branch slated for closure has seen footfall drop by 73 per cent.

Lloyds did not reveal the reduction in the least-hit site that is still closing.

Lloyds Banking Group said: “Our customers are increasingly using digital channels to manage their money, we now have over 20 million customers choosing to bank online.

“Alongside our digital and mobile banking options, we’re introducing more community bankers to provide face to face banking support in communities.

“Customers can also bank with us over the phone, through the Post Office or in a banking hub.

“All colleagues at these branches will be offered a role at another branch or elsewhere in our business.”