Barclays Bank closures

That this House notes with concern the decision by Barclay's Bank on 3 February 2020 to close three branches in Ballymena, Belfast and Newtownards from 29 May 2020; asserts that there is no acceptable rationale for closure of three branches in three major towns and cities in Northern Ireland on the basis of this being part of a sustainability campaign for the banks customers; calls on the bank to reverse this decision immediately and to provide on-street services for its customers in Northern Ireland; further notes the timing of the statement coincided with a public announcement that the bank's Chief Executive Jes Staley faces a probe over historical links to convicted abuser Jeffrey Epstein and seeks assurances this was not a public relations manoeuvre to get bad news out on a bad day; and calls on all interested parties to compel Barclays to rescind its decision.