Make a deposit at Asda - Barclays to open in-store branches

Ever fancied getting a loan while you pick up milk and eggs? Well now you can - if you bank with Barclays and shop at Asda that is.

Barclays is set to open a string of branches within Asda supermarkets from next year, offering seven-days-a-week banking services.

Eight branches will open by early 2014 under a pilot scheme in locations including Cheshire, West Yorkshire, Hertfordshire and East Kent.

Barclays said the move will offer its customers the flexibility of longer opening hours, which will mirror those of the Asda stores the branches are located in, as well as providing more convenient parking access.

Steve Cooper, head of Barclays retail and business bank, said: "We've spoken to our customers who use our everyday and business banking services in our branches and they've told us their time is precious so would benefit from being able to multi-task, park easily and visit branches with longer opening hours."

Branches will be located in clearly defined and branded areas within the Asda stores, so that customers can do their banking in private.

The first branch will be opened in Asda Birchwood in Cheshire in February. Store trading hours will be from 8am to 10pm, six days a week and 10.30am to 4.30pm on Sundays.

A further three branches will open in Asda stores in Pudsey in West Yorkshire, North Watford in Hertfordshire and Broadstairs in East Kent, with the aim to extend the pilot to open eight branches in total by early 2014. The locations of the other branches are yet to be announced.

Karen Hubbard, executive director for property and multichannel at Asda, said: "Access to banking services is an under-rated but important asset to any community but in many areas, these services just aren't available to families."

Metro Bank already boasts seven-day banking among its services and Marks & Spencer, which has been rolling out bank branches in its stores since last year, also has opening hours which mirror those of the shops in which they are sited. M&S Bank offers a pager service meaning customers can carry on with their shopping instead of queuing.