A MAJOR high street banking giant will close 55 more branches for good.
Lloyds Banking Group will shut down a number of branches across its Halifax, Bank of Scotland (BoS) and Lloyds brands.
A total of 32 Halifax branches are set to close, while 19 Lloyds branches and four BoS locations will also close their doors in 2025.
This latest round of closures means that 128 Lloyds branches will close in total this year and next, as well as 119 Halifax sites, and 45 BoS locations.
The majority of the sites are based in England, with several in Scotland too.
The firm has already reduced its portfolio of physical branches in recent years, as young customers favour online banking.
It comes after the banking group told The Sun 19million customers now use its banking apps.
Lloyds is just one of many banking groups making cuts to its estate, with peers such as Barclays and TSB also shaving down the number of branches they operate.
Here is the full list of bank branches which are set to close for good.
Earlier this year, Lloyds banking group said it would shut down 60 branches after the use of the locations had fallen by an average of 52% to 68% over the last five years.
You can read the full list of these locations and the dates they will close here.
Llyods is not the only lender shutting branches.
Natwest Group plans to close a total of 98 stores this year, including 20 Royal Bank of Scotland sites and 10 Ulster Bank locations.
Meanwhile, Santander has rid itself of over 470 locations over the last nine years.
The rapid rise in banks shuttering physical branches has raised concerns about vulnerable groups being isolated from accessing their finances.
Many, particularly the elderly, still rely on in-person services and the closures will make it more difficult for these people to access services.
But there are still a number of ways in which affected customers can access basic banking services without having to venture to the next town.
CUSTOMERS are being forgotten, writes The Sun’s Head of Consumer, Tara Evans
With branches closing and online banking taking over, customers can be left feeling cut off.
We wrote about forgotten customers back in July on our Sun Money pages in our weekly newspaper section.
People like David Elkins, 82, a retired service engineer from Calne, Wilts, who saw his HSBC branch close in 2023 and had to travel ten miles to the next nearest.
He has a kidney issue and needs frequent dialysis, making it impractical.
Banking hubs are emerging as a solution to address the gaps left by widespread closures – but there are not enough of them.
There are plans for 146 of these, but so far there are only 60.
You can use one of the Post Office’s 11,635 branches to perform basic banking tasks, but they don’t allow you to open or close accounts for example.
If the latest raft of closures will leave you with no bank in your town, you should be able to do most basic tasks at your local Post Office.
You can use one of the Post Office’s nearly 12,000 branches to perform basic banking tasks — but not open new bank accounts or take personal loans and mortgages.
Many banks also offer a mobile banking service, which is where your bank brings a bus to your local area that has the services that are usually available at your branch.
You should call your bank to see if it runs such a service and they will be able to tell you where and when it will be parked.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
Banking hubs, which offer traditional shared services, have also been set up in several locations around the UK to help plug the gap — including Brixham, Cambuslang, Cottingham and Rochford.
Thousands of bank branches are closing across the UK, leaving some without one for miles around.
Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that the number of bank branches in operation across the UK fell from 14,689 in 1986 to 5,745 in 2023.
Over the same period, the number of building society branches in operation fell from 6,954 to 1,925.
The FCA recently said it would ban lenders from shutting down too quickly under new rules to help people access cash.
Under the policy, launched by the UK’s financial watchdog, banks will be required to plug the gap for customers impacted by the rise in physical branch closures.
The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) ruling will come into effect on September 18.
However, the changes cannot prevent the closure of bank branches but instead ensure banks offer alternatives for customers.
The watchdog said the new rules will require banks and building societies to fill gaps in cash access with measures such as banking hubs, ATMs and Post Office facilities.
Banking hubs, which were created in response to rapid branch closures, offer traditional shared services in new locations across the UK.
They consist of a counter service operated by Post Office employees, where customers of any bank can withdraw and deposit cash, make bill payments and carry out regular banking transactions.
IF a recent bank or building society closure has left you without one nearby, you may have some alternatives.
You can carry out most basic banking tasks at your nearest Post Office, although you won’t be able to apply for a loan or open a new bank account there.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by using the locator tool on its website.
Meanwhile, many banks offer a mobile banking service – where they bring a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at a physical branch.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
It’s worth contacting your bank to see what services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.
Last month it was announced that new super ATMs would launch in 17 UK locations where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.
The ATMs will allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.
Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank are already signed up to allow deposits, at the super ATMs, with more banks set to sign up soon.
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