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Barclays is charting a decisive U-turn on the high street, with plans to open new branches across the country and reinstate the once-familiar “bank manager” job title, a move that signals a broader rethink of how Britain’s traditional lenders compete in an increasingly digital age.

Vim Maru, who has led Barclays UK since 2024, told Business Matters that the bank intended to grow its branch network beyond the current 206 outlets, having already paused a closure programme that saw roughly 80 per cent of its branches shut since 2019. One of his first acts after taking charge was to halt the cull, and he is now pressing ahead with expansion, though he declined to put a precise figure on how many new sites would open.

The shift comes as digital-only challengers such as Revolut and Wise make increasingly aggressive moves into the current-account market, threatening the established banks’ grip on everyday consumer banking. Rather than trying to outpace them on technology alone, Maru is placing his chips on a blend of slick digital services and genuine, in-person support, what he described as the winning formula for modern banking.

He was characteristically blunt about the shortcomings of purely automated customer service. Barclays customers, he insisted, would not find themselves trapped in an endless loop with a chatbot when they needed real help. The bank has also quietly reintroduced traditional role titles, so that customers walking through the door can once again ask to speak to the branch or bank manager.

Maru stopped short of conceding that Barclays had been too aggressive in its earlier round of closures, but acknowledged that the bank needed to reassess how it served its customers every few years. The new branches will sit alongside the shared banking hubs operated through the Post Office, rather than replace them.

Beyond the branch network, Barclays is pursuing growth on several fronts. The bank reported a record number of mortgage applications last year, with processing times slashed from 45 minutes to just 15 thanks to technology improvements that have proved popular with brokers. Its acquisition of the Tesco credit card business in 2024 and Kensington Mortgages, which has doubled in size since Barclays bought it in May 2023, have broadened the division’s reach considerably.

Artificial intelligence is also being deployed to streamline internal processes, though Maru was cautious about the workforce implications. He drew a parallel with the introduction of ATMs, noting that while the machines were expected to eliminate cashier roles, the subsequent rise in fraud and scams meant staff were redeployed rather than made redundant.

On the broader economy, Maru offered a measured reading from the bank’s unique vantage point. Consumer spending has shown resilience, with hospitality holding up well despite a period of heightened anxiety following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. In the opening days of the war, there was a noticeable surge in fuel purchases as motorists rushed to fill up ahead of expected price rises, though spending patterns quickly normalised.

With Barclays chief executive CS Venkatakrishnan having committed to investing £30 billion more in the UK between 2024 and this year, and despite persistent speculation about possible acquisitions of the likes of Santander UK or TSB, Maru said his priority remained organic growth. The bank, he maintained, already had strong momentum — and a renewed high street presence to match.

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Bandhan Bank posted healthy growth in advances along with steady deposit mobilisation for the quarter ended March 31, 2026, as per its provisional update released on Saturday. The bank’s loans and advances, including on-book and PTC, stood at Rs 1.54 lakh crore at the end of the March quarter, registering a 12.6% year-on-year increase and a 6.2% sequential rise.

Total deposits came in at Rs 1.66 lakh crore, up 10% from a year ago and 6.1% higher on a quarter-on-quarter basis. CASA deposits rose 2.8% year-on-year to Rs 48,751 crore, with the CASA ratio at 29.31% at the end of the quarter.

Retail term deposits saw strong growth, increasing 30.1% year-on-year to Rs 73,796 crore. Overall retail deposits, including CASA, rose 17.7% to Rs 1.22 lakh crore. Bulk deposits declined 6.9% year-on-year to Rs 43,797 crore. Meanwhile, the share of retail deposits in total deposits improved to 73.67% from 68.88% in the same period last year.

The bank reported a liquidity coverage ratio of about 131.76% as of March 31, 2026. Collection efficiency remained robust, with pan-bank efficiency, excluding NPAs, at 98.9% for March 2026, compared to 98.1% in December 2025.

Banking stocks have come under sharp pressure over the past three months, with most lenders underperforming the benchmark Nifty 50 amid a challenging macro backdrop marked by sustained foreign institutional investor (FII) outflows, escalating geopolitical tensions, and a surge in energy prices. Bandhan Bank is down 18% in the last 1 month.

The underperformance comes amid persistent FII selling, which has disproportionately impacted financials due to their heavy weightage in benchmark indices. At the same time, the escalation of the Iran-Israel conflict has triggered a spike in crude oil prices, raising concerns over inflation and delaying expectations of interest rate cuts by global central banks.
The lender has also been in the headlines after The Economic Times reported that Bandhan Financial Services is exploring exit options for its long-term investors, including GIC Ventures and International Finance Corporation.Also read: HDFC Bank Q4 business update: Lender reports 15% YoY growth in deposits, advances jump 12%

The report said the company has appointed Jefferies to assess investor interest, particularly from private equity funds. The move is also in line with regulatory requirements that mandate Bandhan Financial to reduce the promoter’s stake in the bank to 26% by 2030.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

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Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of TH either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

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