TWO town centre bank branches will be merging.

HSBC UK has taken the decision to merge its branch in London Street, Top of The Town, into the outlet in Paddington House, in Festival Place.

The merger will take place on September 20.

The firm said that the decision to merge the branches is due to a number of factors including branch usage as well as "external market data and local insight".

The bank says the merged site will offer significantly longer hours and be open all day on Saturdays – as well as providing a full range of self-service facilities and more staff to better assist with our customers’ banking needs.

A spokesperson for HSBC said: “We are completing a full renovation of the [Paddington House] branch later this year.

“All staff from the Basingstoke London Street branch, and all customer accounts, will be moving across to the new improved branch on Friday, 20 September. We are writing to our customers to let them know of this change.”