HSBC earlier this week announced that two branches in the North East will close this year, as part of the bank's plans to shut 69 branches nationwide.
The news is the latest blow, bringing the total up to eight bank branches planning to close up for good in our region this year - so far. It's the usual story - fewer than 50 per cent customers use its bank branch network, according to HSBC, but that still leaves a sizeable amount of customers who can't or don't want to do their banking online.
A full list of North East closures announced so far this year is:
