BANKING giant HSBC will close its branch in Royal Wootton Bassett at the end of the summer as part of an efficiency drive.

Customers were informed by a letter that the worldwide financial services company's branch in the High Street branch will cease trading on September 11 as part of the business's drive to adapt to customers changing habits in the digital age.

Customers will still be able to use the nearby post office to check their bank balances, as well as pay cash into their accounts and to cash cheques, while there will still be several fee-free cash points in the area.

And the bank said it would be working with local customers to support them to re-organise their financial arrangements ahead of the closure.

"Our Royal Wootton Bassett branch is closing on 11 September, but our customers will be able to use the Royal Wootton Bassett post office to check their balance and withdraw and pay in cash and cheques, as well as several fee-free ATMs in the local area," said an HSBC spokesman.

"Our branches are a very important way for our customers to bank with us, especially for their more complex financial needs, but our customers' habits are changing - they are increasingly using the convenience of internet, smart phone or telephone banking for their day to day needs.

"In common with other high street banks, footfall in our branches has fallen dramatically and is accelerating.

"We have seen almost a 40 per cent reduction in customer footfall over the last four years.

"It is never a decision we take lightly, but on occasions this has meant we have needed to close a branch and our Royal Wootton Bassett branch is a case in point.

"Decisions like this are never easy, but we are working with the small number of customers who use the branch to help them reorganise their finances ahead of the closure.

"The members of staff who man the branch will transfer to other HSBC branches in the area."

A spokesman from the Royal Wootton Bassett Business Association said: "Customers of HSBC will have been disappointed to receive a letter today saying that our High Street branch is closing on September 11.

"Nearest branches will be at Westlea and Canal Walk, Swindon. We will be sad to see them go but hope very much that another business will take over the premises soon."