Barclays only opened their branch at 215 High Street, next door to Argos, a few months ago, possibly to relieve the pressure on their Hoe Street Branch. The Hoe Street branch is notorious for its queues out the door on Saturdays and the lack of privacy for customers speaking to advisers.

They are open in the High Street, at the corner of Westbury Road, from Monday to Friday between 9.00am - 5.0pm and from 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturdays. The phone number for personal customers is 08457 555 555. For premier customers the number is 0845 850 1000. A premier account is not a reference to the Barclays Premier League, but an attempt to market a costly account (£17.50 if you meet eligibility criteria - otherwise it is available for £25 per month) for customers on £100k a year or with £50K to invest). It looks to me like an expensive offer for few benefits except the massaging of the egos of people with more money than sense. It does help Barclays with the easier identification of people to aim their less than cutting-edge or competitive range of financial 'products' to.

Financial Planning advice may be had by calling 0800 328 7515, business customers call 0845 605 2345. People who prefer a personal service from their bank should note that none of these are local numbers.

Barclays is said to be the third largest bank in the UK. Despite its attempts to promote a modern image of itself, it traces its roots back to a financial institution founded in London in 1690. Its name has been linked to Alexander and David Barclay, who provided credit to transatlantic slave traders, though the bank is very sensitive about this and claims its founders were never anything but Quaker financiers.

The current Chairman of Barclays, Marcus Ambrose Paul Agius is married to Katherine, the daughter of Edmund de Rothschild of the English Rothschild banking family.The current President, Bob Diamond, is the bank's highest paid executive, taking a remuneration package worth £18.5million in cash, bonuses and share options last year. The share price dropped 30% in 2007.