SEVERAL Halifax agencies in the York and Ryedale area are to close this autumn, following a review by the bank.

The independent agencies in Heworth, Bishopthorpe, Pickering and Filey, which are operated by third party businesses and offer a range of banking counter services, will shut in October and November.

A spokeswoman said the review had concluded that the bank’s 265 agencies across the country were no longer integral to its business model. “The number of agents has also declined significantly in recent years,” she said.

“Since 2005, the independent agency business has almost halved from 475 to 265 agencies.”