A DISUSED bank could be turned into two apartments under new plans.

HSBC on Ruabon’s High Street closed in April 2016 despite local opposition after the bank claimed an increase in the use of online and telephone banking had led to the number of people visiting the branch falling significantly.

Now proposals have been submitted to turn the building, which is estimated to be approximately 100-years-old, into two ground floor apartments.

According to the floor plans accompanying the application, one of the apartments would have two bedrooms, while the other would have three.

HSBC was the last bank in Ruabon when it shut its doors, which came at the same time the company announced the closure of its Chirk branch.

All accounts were transferred to Wrexham and staff moved to other locations.

The move was heavily criticised by local politicians, including Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones, who described it as ‘shameful’.

She said HSBC had already closed branches in other villages and small towns – including Llangollen, Corwen, Cefn and Rhosllannerchrugog – and added she would raise the matter in the House of Commons.

Speaking in January 2016, a HSBC spokesman said: “We never take the decision to close a branch lightly, and we understand it’s unsettling for the local community.

“Unfortunately, with an increase in the use of online and telephone banking over the past few years use of the Chirk and Ruabon branches has fallen significantly, and we’ve taken the difficult decision to close them.”