In the poll – which posed the question: 'Do you expect to see a rise in “drive-thru” banks in the UK?' – 55% responded 'yes'.

Metro Bank has been leading the way with this trend having launched its first drive-thru at its Slough store in May 2013.

This store provides two drive-thru lanes with a dedicated cashier, allowing customers to pay in cash and cheques and withdraw funds from their accounts.

Metro Bank went on to open London's first drive-thru bank in October 2015 in Southall, with a third drive-thru facility opening in October this year in Luton.

Iain Kirkpatrick, managing director retail banking at Metro Bank, said: “Customers want choice when it comes to how, when and where they do their banking, whether that's in store, online, by phone, through an app or from the seat of their car.

“Our drive-thrus have proven to be extremely popular among our broad customer base.

“Whether you're a parent with a car full of kids, a business owner cashing in your takings or just want to avoid the rain, our drive-thrus make banking even more convenient.”

However, Graham Lloyd, industry principal of financial services at banking software provider Pegasystems, didn't see too many benefits for customers with regards to drive-thru banks.

“It's hard to see how drive-thru banking will penetrate far in the UK, for both banking and cultural/logistical reasons,” said Graham.

“We have increasingly fewer reasons for visiting a branch, with the banks themselves pushing us towards alternative, automated channels (despite a staunch rearguard action by the likes of Metro, even the most dedicated branch service offerings don't draw us in droves).

“Many people split their banking needs among several providers, so the 'value' of any visits we do make is diminished.

“And generally, banks are simply no longer the destinations they once were, being more componentry in other value chains.

“As [the writer] Bill Bryson observed, compared to the US, we tend not to drive as frequently to any venue except shopping malls; we are willing, if occasionally reluctant, walkers and actually quite like the way of life in our villages and high streets.

“Drive-thru simply doesn't carry the same convenience here and even if it did, our sense of privacy poses big questions around what exactly we would be willing to discuss from the car window.

“The only potential positive is the splash of novelty were a bank to promote drive-thru.

“But this is hardly the stuff of substance or sustainability.”