Meanwhile, a retired traffic police officer from Narowal is the latest to fall prey to a gang of
telephone banking fraudsters.
"Customers can still use ATMs and
telephone banking."
In a statement, a spokeswoman said: "We made the decision to close these branches because of the changing ways customers choose to bank with us, such as using online and
telephone banking to complete their banking needs.
There were 1,007,094 such incidents between January and June - equating to one every 15 seconds - made up of payment card fraud, cheque fraud and online and
telephone banking fraud.
Barclays has today announced that it is introducing voice security technology to all customers, meaning its
telephone banking service will be easier to use and more secure than ever.
Barclays'
telephone banking service will create a digital profile of customers' voices - like a unique fingerprint - over the course of around three phone calls.
"Any customers with urgent queries should call Business
Telephone Banking on 03457 60 60 60 or Personal
Telephone Banking on 03457 404 404," a spokeswoman said.
ONLINE and
telephone banking fraud is soaring as more and more customers are tricked into handing over their personal and financial information.
Never disclose your PIN or online /
telephone banking log-in information or card reader codes to anyone, even if the caller claims to be from the bank or police.
Sunderland site president Christine Allenson said: "Sunderland is at the forefront of our plans to make
telephone banking more accessible, and we need more people as we expand the services we provide."
Customers using
telephone banking are no longer able to pass on their account, credit or debit card number on phone as many local banks have stopped accepting it for "highest customer safety".
Other features include: free online banking; free e-statement or image statement; free
telephone banking; free mobile banking; direct deposit of interest to check account or schedule mailed checks.
