As more and more banks announce store closures across the country we looked into how often our residents use banks and whether we should be concerned about the decline of banks on the high street.

Last year, Nationwide closed two Slough bank branches located on Willow Parade, Langley and on the Farnham Road.

Both sites shut on October 20, 2022 leaving local residents "gutted" at the trek they would now need to do to get to a bank on Slough high street.

Hundreds more banks are set to close this year, with HSBC, Lloyds, Natwest, Barclays, Halifax, Santander, Nationwide, TSB and Virgin Money having announced 2023 closures.

So far Slough banks appear to have escaped the shuttering.

We asked the Slough Business Improvement District (Slough BID) whether we should be concerned about the decline of banks in Slough.

Slough BID Manager, Clarissa Parker said: "I totally understand concerns raised in respect of the two Nationwide units closing in 2022.

"Speaking specifically about the Slough High Street vicinity, to my knowledge and research, the Town Centre will be fortunate enough to keep all existing bank branches open in the High Street for 2023.

"It is so important for Slough residents, business owners, vulnerable and older generations to have the trust of going into a branch for face-to-face support. 

"While customer behaviour has changed significantly in recent years, with the majority now choosing online banking, as far as I can see for 2023 the banks in the Town Centre will continue to support Slough by maintaining their community presence with options for customers who still require in-person support."

But do the vast majority of people still go into banks or have people turned to online and mobile banking?

Upon asking our readers "When was the last time you went into a bank?" we were surprised to learn that banks are still very popular.

Dozens of people stated they had been to a bank in the last two weeks 

However, one commenter said they hadn't gone to a bank since their closest branch shut down, while another said they only go in to deposit a cheque.