Plans by Barclays to revamp its branch network are coming into focus, with chief executive Anthony Jenkins telling the BBC that the UK bank will close a quarter of its high street branches over the coming year.
In November, Barclays confirmed plans to axe 1700 customer-facing jobs from its branch network in 2014, citing the rise of new customer channels, particularly mobile banking.
Speaking to the BBC, Jenkins says that the bank plans to replace about 400 branches with smaller outlets in Asda supermarkets.
The cost-cutting measures will also be felt in the investment banking division, with another 400 jobs expected to be axed, over and above the 1800 roles already identified for the chop last year.
The update comes as Jenkins prepares to unveil a new five-year plan for the business next month, which will set out plans to lop £1.7bn from annual expenses by next year.
Responding to the BBC reporting, a Barclays spokesman said the bank had yet to set a timeframe for the branch cull, adding that it would not leave a community without the ability to transact.
"We have consistently been clear that, over time, there will be fewer traditional branches as we move to provide banking services to customers where and when they find it most convenient," the spokesman said. "This will be driven by the needs of our customers and, therefore, there is not a target for a number of branches to be closed, nor a time frame for such action."