Lloyds Bank announces 53 more branches to shut in huge blow to high street
General view of a Lloyds Bank branch on Kings Street in Hammersmith, London
PA
Lloyds Banking Group has announced the closure of another 53 branches as customers shun the high street to move online.
The latest announcement brings the overall number of closures this year to more than 500.
A total of 21 Lloyds Bank, 15 Halifax and 17 Bank of Scotland sites will go between September this year and May 2024.
Campaigners who oppose the move argue elderly and vulnerable account holders are being left behind by the decision.
Lloyds Banking Group has announced the closure of another 53 branches as customers shun the high street to move online
PAMany elderly and vulnerable customers struggle to use the internet and app-based platforms.
The closure of sites has coincided with a sharp fall in the number of free automated-teller-machines.
The consumer group Which? revealed that 662 branches were closed last year across the industry and 204 have gone so far this year.
Another 255 more have been scheduled, giving a total of 1,121 before yesterday's announcement.
A branch of Lloyds Bank in the City of LondonPAThe overall number includes 284 sites from Lloyds, Halifax and the Bank of Scotland.
Lloyds defended the closures by saying usage fell by an average of 55 per cent over the last five years.
A spokesman said: "Our customers are increasingly using digital channels to manage their money – we now have over 20 million customers choosing to bank online.
"Alongside our digital and mobile banking options, we’re introducing more Community Bankers to provide face to face banking support in communities.
A Halifax branch in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
PA
"Customers can also bank with us over the phone, through the Post Office or in a Banking Hub.
“All colleagues at these branches will be offered a role at another branch or elsewhere in our business."
So-called community bankers from Lloyds have visited areas facing closures.
Workers have dedicated office space to meet customers on pre-announced days.
The Lloyds Bank banking app is used on a Samsung Galaxy S4
PA
The latest Lloyds closures will impact customers in Gloucester, South Molton, Liphook, Hazlemere, Leeds, Bournemouth, Kidlington, Slough, Northampton, Brighouse, Kingsbridge, Prenton, March, Llanishen, Cromer, Formby, Thirsk, North Walsham, St David’s, Alresford and Pershore.
Halifax sites will shut in Swiss Cottage, Haywards Heath, Southampton, Harborne, Kingstanding, Todmorden, Great Barr, Craigavon, Feltham, Canvey Island, Malvern, Grantham, Leominster, Larne and Paignton.
Bank of Scotland customers in Cupar, Fort Augustus, Eyemouth, Ballater, Duns, Braemar, Ullapool, Aberfoyle, Newcastleton, Dunkeld, Falkland, Cumnock, Crieff, Jedburgh, Girvan, Dunbar and Aviemore will also soon lose their high street sites.