Barclays customers across the UK are voicing their frustration and concern after the banking giant announced it will permanently close its dedicated Barclaycard online servicing website on June 10, 2026. The move, which will impact more than five million UK customers, signals yet another step in the industry’s accelerating shift toward digital-first banking—but critics warn it could leave many, especially older and less tech-savvy users, struggling to manage their finances.
According to Express and El-Balad, Barclays informed customers this week via email: “Your Barclaycard online servicing is closing on June 10, 2026. We understand that a change like this can be unexpected, but this won’t affect your account or how you use your card in any way. Please keep using the Barclaycard app to manage your account.” For those already comfortable with mobile banking, the message might sound reassuring. But for thousands who rely on desktop access or simply don’t use smartphones, the closure feels more like a door slamming shut than a gentle nudge toward progress.
The backlash was immediate and fierce. On social media and online forums, customers vented their anger. One user wrote on Reddit, “They’re closing banks, and now they’re closing websites. Not everyone uses apps.” Others echoed the sentiment, saying the shift away from desktop access leaves behind those who either prefer or depend on traditional online banking.
For campaigners advocating for older people and the digitally excluded, the move is nothing short of alarming. Dennis Reed, founder of the over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, minced no words in his condemnation. “This proposed move by Barclays is disgusting and discriminatory,” Reed said, as reported by El-Balad. “The bank is saying to millions of older people who do not possess a smartphone, or are not comfortable using apps, ‘get lost, you do not exist as far as we are concerned.’” Reed went on to urge the government to step in, warning that the combination of branch closures and the rise of app-based banking could make it “harder for whole sections of society to pay bills and access cash.” He called for legal requirements to ensure businesses always offer an alternative to apps.
Data from Age UK underscores why the reaction has been so sharp. The charity’s research shows that 27 percent of people over 65 use branches or Post Offices to manage their finances. Among those aged 85 and over, only 14 percent use online banking, while a whopping 58 percent rely entirely on face-to-face services. These numbers paint a stark picture of a population at risk of being left behind as banks race toward digital-only solutions.
The timing of Barclays’ decision is particularly notable given the wider context. The UK banking sector has been steadily reducing its physical footprint for years. Between 2015 and the end of 2022, Barclays closed 962 branches, the highest number among individual banks. Across the sector, an average of 54 branches have closed each month since January 2015. For many customers, especially in rural or underserved areas, the closure of physical branches and now the online servicing website feels like a double blow.
Barclays, for its part, insists the change is about streamlining services and responding to shifting customer preferences. A spokesperson told Express, “Following a review, we will be simplifying things for customers by replacing the dedicated Barclaycard website with account servicing via Barclays online banking.” The bank emphasized that the transition will be gradual and that customers will not lose access to online services entirely. Instead, they will eventually be able to manage their accounts through the main Barclays website, in addition to the app, telephone banking, or in branches.
Yet, for many, these assurances ring hollow. Critics argue that the move to app-only servicing is less about customer convenience and more about cost-cutting and efficiency—and that it risks exacerbating digital exclusion. Those without smartphones, or who struggle with mobile technology, may find themselves with fewer and fewer ways to manage their money independently. As Reed pointed out, “The Government must get to grips with the banking problem.”
Barclays has tried to position the change as part of a broader trend toward digital banking, noting that more people are choosing to bank through apps. But while the statistics may support a general move toward mobile technology, the reality for many—especially the elderly or those with disabilities—is that the shift feels more like a loss than an upgrade.
Customers have not been shy about sharing their frustrations. One person summed up the mood online: “They’re closing banks, and now they’re closing websites. Not everyone uses apps.” Another remarked that the change felt less like a new step and more like “a system being retired without a replacement that suits everyone.” The sense of exclusion is palpable, especially among those who have already seen their local branches disappear.
Barclays maintains that customers will still be able to apply for new cards and manage existing accounts through its app, telephone banking, or in branches. The bank also says that, while the dedicated Barclaycard website is going away, customers will eventually be able to access account services through the main Barclays website. However, the details of this transition remain unclear, and many are skeptical about how seamless or accessible the new arrangements will be.
The debate over the future of banking in the UK is far from settled. On one hand, banks argue that digital services are more efficient, secure, and in line with modern customer expectations. On the other, campaigners, charities, and many ordinary customers warn that the relentless march toward a cashless, app-based future risks leaving the most vulnerable behind. The closure of the Barclaycard online servicing website is just the latest flashpoint in this ongoing struggle.
Age UK’s research highlights the stakes: if banks do not provide adequate alternatives for those who cannot—or will not—use apps, millions could find themselves cut off from essential financial services. And with branch closures continuing at pace, the options for those left behind are dwindling fast.
As the June 10, 2026 deadline approaches, pressure is mounting on Barclays to explain what support will be available for customers who cannot or do not want to use the app. Will there be tailored assistance for the elderly and digitally excluded, or will they be left to fend for themselves in an increasingly digital world? For now, many are watching closely—and hoping that their voices will not be ignored.
With the future of banking hanging in the balance, the coming months will test whether digital progress can truly be made without sacrificing accessibility and inclusion for all.