BRANCHES of the former Woolwich Building Society in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots are set to close in two months time, with customers accounts being transferred to nearby branches of parent company Barclays Bank. The banking giant acquired the Woolwi

BRANCHES of the former Woolwich Building Society in Huntingdon, St Ives and St Neots are set to close in two months' time, with customers' accounts being transferred to nearby branches of parent company Barclays Bank.

The banking giant acquired the Woolwich in 2000 and until now has run the two operations side by side. It will now promote the former building society as its mortgage arm.

Barclays said the move would give Woolwich account-holders access to four times as many branches and the ability to bank through post offices.

"This is good news for our Woolwich customers as they will have access to a wider range of services which will be available to them at more branches throughout the UK," said Irene East, head of community relations for the bank's eastern region. "Their branch will also be better staffed as their colleagues in the Woolwich branch will also move to Barclays. This means customers will be served by the same faces."

Closing Woolwich offices are in Huntingdon High Street, The Market, St Ives, and High Street, St Neots. In each case there is a Barclays branch close by - in Market Hill, Huntingdon, The Pavement, St Ives, and further along the High Street in St Neots.