The spokesman confirmed a claim from the union Unite, saying the way customers accessed their money "is changing rapidly" and fewer branches were required.
Unite said the Barclays had informed its workforce that it will be cutting 1,700 jobs, including cashiers, personal bankers, operational specialists, branch managers and assistant managers next year.
A Barclays spokesman said: "As a result of technological changes, we will be able to provide better service for our customers with fewer staff in our branches.
Unite accused Barclays of making a "colossal mistake".
"These employees deliver high levels of service that customers of the bank benefit from," it said.
"Such a massive reduction will be very detrimental to the bank and will also be hugely challenging for the staff remaining.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Access to Exclusive Premium Stories
Over 30 subscriber-only stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app