Banks in Britain are closing at a staggering pace, unfortunately it’s hurting the older generation who are less tech savvy and depend on face to face banking to handle transactions according to the Mirror report.

Britain’s biggest banks are closing more than 12 branches a week – leaving customers without face-to-face banking services, writes the Sunday People.

New figures show 650 bank branches have been axed this year – compared with 500 in 2014 and 222 in 2013.

Low income and elderly customers who depend on public transport and don’t have internet access will be forced to travel miles to reach their nearest bank.

Derek French of the Campaign for Community Banking said: “By the end of the year there will only be 8,400 retail bank branches in the UK, including around 40 of the new Metro Bank. Early indications are that the trend will continue.

“Market towns are already suffering from a decline in shoppers. Bank closures make things even worse because people who run small businesses are forced to switch to larger towns and then other businesses close.”

Voluntary pledges by RBS, Lloyds and Barclays to keep open “last bank in town” branches were scrapped last year. Since then around 300 communities have been left without a local bank.

Branches earmarked for closure are now subject to an “access to banking protocol” agreed between the industry and the Government which recognises the right of banks to close but says they must consult local people about alternative services such as those available at post offices.

Total branch numbers across all banks have declined from 17,600 in 1990 to around 8,400 today.

Mr French believes one way banks could reduce their operating costs while keeping open services would be to share branches but says they have refused to consider this.

He said: “It’s a worrying picture. Communities are having to get used to a new environment where all that can be expected from engagement with the closing bank is some limited post closure provision for banking needs. Early signs are that this is inadequate for many.

“There will be a lot more closures. Our feeling is that the Post Office in its present form is an inadequate replacement and there needs to be work on another replacement.”

The British Bankers Association says most banking services can be provided electronically, with 24 hour online banking or ATMs.

“Branch services still exist and banks are committed in the most part to keeping them open where there is a definite customer need,” said a spokesman.

The last remaining bank in the North Cornwall town of Camelford closed to customers last month.

Camelford had already lost its Lloyds and NatWest branches in the previous six months when Barclays pulled out of the town due to its declining use.

Town mayor Rob Rotchell says customers now face a 30-mile round trip to their nearest bank.

He said: “It means we won’t even have an ATM and we have businesses here who will have nowhere to pay in their cash transactions.

“They don’t give any consideration to the impact it will have. It’s a purely commercial decision. Some customers transferred to Barclays because it was open and within a short space of time that while move is made pointless.”

Barclays says it had closed because so many customers now used internet and mobile banking.