The newly-relocated branches will be open seven days a week in the ASDA stores from 2014.

Bank staff will work at the new supermarket-based branches during normal bank opening hours, with cash and cheque machines accessible during the supermarkets’ opening hours.

It has also said it will then open another four branches in other Asda stores in a bid to make banking more convenient. 

Kevin Mountford, head of banking at MoneySuperMarket.com, said: “This is a clever move by Barclays, moving some of its stores that have low footfall into ASDA stores which will have high footfall. It will put the bank right in the heart of shopping communities and provide convenience and access for shoppers and Barclays customers.

“The fact they plan to open another four branches in ASDA stores next year shows they are committed to this idea. It will be interesting to see how this plan develops but it should be commended for providing people with more banking options and creating a flexible partnership model to support customer needs.”

The first branches will be at an Asda store in Birchwood in Cheshire in February. Three more will be opened later at Asda stores in Pudsey in West Yorkshire, North Watford in Hertfordshire and Broadstairs in East Kent.

The new branches will be open to all new and existing Barclays customers.