THE HSBC branch in Colwyn Bay closed yesterday (September 10), with the town losing another high street bank.

Last November, HSBC announced that it would be closing 114 branches in 2023, including the Colwyn Bay branch.

The bank stated that the closures were down to “a reduction in footfall in most of the branches by more than 50 per cent”.

The Colwyn Bay branch was set to close on August 15, but this was paused after the banking giant’s closures underwent an independent assessment.

However, the branch bid farewell to the town yesterday, joining a host of banks and other businesses in the town to close in recent years.

“I was very saddened to hear back in 2022 that HSBC would be closing their Colwyn Bay branch,” Clwyd West MS Darren Millar said.

“At the time I wrote to the bank highlighting my concerns regarding the impact this will have on residents and businesses.

 “The closest branch is over seven miles away in Llandudno, which is quite a distance for people, particularly the elderly, to travel,  if they want to see someone face-to-face.

“They have installed a Cash Pod at Bayview Shopping Centre in Colwyn Bay, which will be operational before the branch closes.

“I have been highly critical of banks abandoning our high streets in recent years, but sadly it seems to be a sign of times."

One resident said the closure was evident of a "dying town", while another questioned what was happening to the town with "everything closing down".

Another resident said that soon there would "be nothing left" in Colwyn Bay, with a fourth resident adding the closure was "so sad".