HSBC will close Bournemouth site and relocate to sex shop Ann Summers

HSBC, which has a branch in Old Christchurch Road, is set to close later this year and reopen in Commercial Road in the former Ann Summers shop. 

The move is part of what the company says is a multi-million pound investment to update and improve its branch network. 

An HSBC UK spokesman said: “Branches continue to play an important role for us and our customers and we are investing tens of millions of pounds in updating and improving our branch network.  

Ann Summers in Commercial Road (Image: Daily Echo)

“This is in addition to providing significant investment in digital functionality and banking through our mobile banking app.  

“As part of our investment we will be relocating our Bournemouth branch to more suitable premises later in 2023. 

Read more: Ann Summers opens new lingerie store in Bournemouth

“The new branch will be more accessible for customers and colleagues with disabilities and will also provide new and improved facilities including self-service equipment, counter facilities and our team of colleagues to help customers with face to face enquiries.” 

The site relocation depends on planning permission being granted by BCP Council.

HSBC in Old Christchurch Road (Image: Daily Echo)

Ann Summers closed its store in Bournemouth town centre’s Commercial Road last year and moved just three units up. 

A spokesperson from Ann Summers told the Echo in November when it opened: “Our previous store closed as part of a natural break in the lease, and we are delighted to have found another brilliant location just a few doors down.” 

Read more: List of HSBC branch closures in Dorset and the New Forest

Meanwhile, late last year HSBC announced as part of a culling of 114 nationwide branches, the bank would be closing five Dorset sites. 

This included Blandford, Shaftesbury, Bridport, Christchurch and Dorchester. New Milton i will lose its branch this year, too. 

Jackie Uhi, HSBC UK’s managing director of UK distribution, said: “The decision to close a branch is never easy or taken lightly, especially if we are the last branch in an area, so we’ve invested heavily in our ‘post-closure’ strategy, including providing free tablet devices to selected branch customers who do not already have a device to bank digitally, alongside one-to-one coaching to help them migrate to digital banking.”