HSBC UK is planning to open branches for longer from next month

HSBC UK is planning to extend the opening hours of its branches in June, after previously reducing them during the coronavirus pandemic.

The extension would coincide with restrictions potentially being lifted from June 21 under the Government’s road map out of lockdown for England.

The bank said it will need to keep the situation under review, but currently it is expecting to proceed as planned.

It plans to increase midweek opening hours, which are currently 10am to 2pm or 10am to 4pm, as well as reopen many branches at the weekend.

The bank said the additional opening times will mean that across the bank’s branch network, customers will have nearly 5,000 extra hours to do their banking in branch.

HSBC previously cut branch opening hours early on in the coronavirus pandemic, taking into account staff who were shielding or unable to attend work due to family or childcare needs.

Banks’ phone lines and websites were busy generally early on in the pandemic as customers looked to access coronavirus support measures, such as mortgage holidays and interest-free overdraft buffers.

HSBC’s opening times are also being simplified. Before the coronavirus pandemic there were 11 different sets of opening hours across the HSBC UK branch network, and this is being reduced to three.

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s head of branch network, said: “With the recent re-opening of non-essential retail businesses and the possibility of remaining restrictions easing providing us all with a more normal way of life, we are planning to extend our branch opening hours.

“We will continue to keep these opening hours under review and look very closely at how customer behaviour is evolving as we come out of lockdown to understand customer demand in local markets.”

The bank will also be introducing pop-up branches to local communities and it will help customers who need further digital support with an initiative called HSBC@Home, with online sessions hosted by specially trained staff.

Customers who wish to know the opening hours of their local branch can visit the HSBC UK branch finder.