The bank customer was shot in face with an airgun and stabbed during the bungled armed robbery at the Lloyds branch on The Square around 4pm. He was airlifted to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford but has since been discharged.
A police spokesman said two men entered the bank and demanded cash but fled empty handed.
The man with the airgun was described as white, the second man had his face covered. Both were described as slim, aged around 20 to 30, between 5ft 7ins and 6ft tall, and were wearing hooded tops.
Police were called to the scene at 4.10pm with a sniffer dog and a forensic team and the area around the bank was cordoned off. Having reviewed CCTV?footage of the incident, the police are treating the attempted robbery as “an isolated incident”.
The bank was closed all day Tuesday.
An eye witness, who didn’t wish to be named, said that traffic in The Square came to a standstill for more than 30 minutes.
Anyone with information about the whereabouts of the men or the attempted robbery should call DC Katherine Bird at Basingstoke police station on 101, quoting 44160184028, or leave details via the website hampshire.police.uk. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. Minicom users should call 01962 875000.