Barclays temporarily relocates its main Victoria branch |20 July 2019
Barclays’ main Victoria branch is now located at Victoria House
Barclays’ main Victoria branch has shifted from its long-established premises on Independence Avenue to a more spacious location at Victoria House, at the junction of Francis Rachel Street and State House Avenue.
The new, modern and improved branch is equipped with all the facilities, services and operations which were being offered at the former location.
Barclays has also moved one of the two ATMs at Independence Avenue to the new branch and the other remains at the same location.
The relocation however is temporary.
This is to allow for the complete renovation of the Independence Avenue branch which, when completed, is expected to be more practical, modern and fit for quality banking.
Managing director of Barclays Bank Seychelles, Johan Van Schalkwyk, said that although the building is not expected to be torn down, the branch will be completely revamped.
“It was old, it was tired and it desperately needed a facelift,” Mr Van Schalkwyk explained.
He noted that the current Victoria House branch has been designed with the aim of providing its customers and staff with a more modern facility.
“What we have built in Victoria House is a far better branch and offers a much better customer experience than the one at Independence did. The branch is well-designed and modern and should resonate better with our customers.”
Although the bank had communicated various customer notices in regards to the branch’s relocation, some customers had been surprised to find that the bank had moved during this week.
“Our intention was not to inconvenience our customers but rather to revamp the bank and still be able to offer quality service to the customers. Victoria House is not far from the former location; it is literally about a hundred metres away,” Mr Van Schalkwyk stated.
“The branch has been there [Independence Avenue] for many, many years and I think our customers got really used to it being in that exact same spot. In fact, that is where Barclays started 60 years ago but we needed to clear it out for the renovation works.”
Barclays Bank is currently in the design and planning phase of the project, and tender for contractors will be advertised this year.
“We hope we can have contractors on site in the last quarter of 2019 but definitely in the first quarter of 2020,” Mr Van Schalkwyk offered.
It is expected that the Independence Avenue branch will open its doors in the first quarter of 2021 under the Absa banner since Barclays Seychelles will rebrand as Absa by June 2020.