44 more LBG branches to close
Lloyds Banking Group yesterday announced the closure of 44 more of its branches over the course of 2023 and 2024 - 24 Lloyds Bank branches, 15 Halifax and 5 Bank of Scotland.
Communities not to be left waiting for banking hubs
After scrutinising the treasury select committee's findings in February, Unite pressed the bank to not leave communities behind when closing branches. Staff used to be proud that LBG would never close the "last branch in town", but long gone are those days.
When banks close branches, they send details over to the LINK scheme, who in turn assess that location's need for, and access to, banking services. One of the initiatives LINK can provide is installing free-to-use cash machines or deposit hubs in communities. Another is by setting up a banking hub.
Banking hubs provide basic banking services including counter services run by the major banks and the Post Office, and dedicated rooms where customers can see community bankers from their own bank for more complicated matters that require specialist knowledge or privacy.
One of the findings of the select committee was that banking hubs sometimes take so long to set up, that branches are closed and communities left in the wilderness before the hub opens its doors. LBG have committed that the 8 branches where a banking hub has been recommended, and the 2 where a deposit solution has been recommended, will stay open for up to 12 months to allow for a more seamless transition for local customers.
Colleague impact
LBG say that they want "to serve our customers where they need us most." Statistics show that cash usage is down overall, however more recent studies show that bank branch usage may be rising again. Lloyds' own data shows them that usage is still declining, and this is the data they use when looking at branch closures. Sometimes, the way we serve customers is no longer in locations that we used to.
In order to make sure that jobs are secured first and foremost, we've worked with the bank to develop a set of ways that colleagues who will be impacted by these closures will be approached.
A one-to-one should be scheduled to understand your personal situation and career aspirations. This may help shape what you do next in LBG. You can also contact Unite in LBG if going through this scenario as we have learning offerings that can be tailored to you.
Your next role may be at another branch within your pool or in a different role such as telephony. You can also contact Unite in LBG if going through this scenario as we have learning offerings that can be tailored to you.
Unite oppose all branch closures and our community branches within Unite have been made aware of the closures to assess the impact. One customer or colleague being forced to spend extra time, money or effort in order to commute to a different branch is one too many.
For many elderly residents and individuals without access to digital platforms, the closure of bank branches presents a significant challenge. These individuals rely on face-to-face interactions with bank tellers for various financial transactions, including depositing cheques, withdrawing cash, and seeking personalized assistance. With the closure of their local branches, they now face the daunting task of adapting to digital banking or traveling longer distances to find a functioning branch.
Small enterprises also often rely on nearby bank branches for quick and efficient cash deposits, which are vital for maintaining their day-to-day operations. The lack of convenient banking options could potentially hamper their ability to conduct business smoothly and could impact the overall local economy.
We have urged Lloyds management to stop and think about the closure programme and its impact on individuals, and will continue to support members and customers affected by bank closures, which are prevalent across all of the big banks. In the meantime, you can read our page on bank branch closures to see how it affects communities and how to get in touch.
The full list of branches is as follows:
BOS
Dundee Fairmuir - closes 01/11/2023
Dunoon - closes 05/12/2023
Glasgow Govan - closes 09/01/2024
Tarbert (Harris) - closes 22/02/2024
Lochmaddy - closes 26/02/2024
Halifax
Chiswick - closes 01/11/2023
Teddington - closes 02/11/2023
Pudsey - closes 06/11/2023
Swinton - closes 14/11/2023
Muswell Hill - closes 15/11/2023
Sidcup - closes 22/11/2023
Bracknell - closes 28/11/2023
Maidenhead - closes 29/11/2023
Caerphilly - closes 30/11/2023
Denbigh - closes 04/12/2023
Ilkley - closes 15/01/2024
Prescot - closes 08/04/2024
Thorne - closes 08/04/2024
Ossett - closes 09/04/2024
Normanton - closes 08/07/2024
Lloyds
Farnham - closes 31/10/2023
Leicester Uppingham Road - closes 02/11/2023
Knightsbridge - closes 07/11/2023
Bolton Halliwell Road - closes 08/11/2023
Portslade & West Hove - closes 09/11/2023
Bristol Horfield - closes 09/11/2023
Birmingham Rubery - closes 13/11/2023
Sidcup - closes 13/11/2023
London Piccadilly - closes 16/11/2023
Swinton - closes 20/11/2023
Lincoln North Hykeham - closes 21/11/2023
Bristol Shirehampton - closes 23/11/2023
Callington - closes 27/11/2023
Keighley - closes 28/11/2023
St Neots - closes 06/12/2023
St Budeaux Plymouth - closes 10/01/2024
Witham - closes 11/01/2024
Ulverston - closes 09/04/2024
Stone - closes 10/04/2024
Saltash - closes 10/04/2024
West Drayton - closes 11/04/2024
Teignmouth - closes 15/04/2024
Tonypandy - closes 04/07/2024
Crediton - closes 04/07/2024