Five branches in region are facing axe in latest Lloyds cull
Lloyds has announced it is to close five of its branches in the North West as part of its latest round of cost-cutting.
The bank is shutting down 49 high street branches across the UK putting a total of 1,230 jobs at risk.
The closures are a result of the move towards digital banking with the bank’s mobile branch network being increased by seven to 36.
The closures will affect 41 Lloyds and eight Halifax branches.
Lloyds branches in Cockermouth, Keswick, Stalybridge and Royton, Lancashire, are being axed along with a Halifax branch in Preston.
Last week it was revealed that the Royal Bank of Scotland was closing its branch in Spinningfields in Manchester City Centre after it emerged just five people a week use it.
A spokesperson for Lloyds said: “Lloyds Banking Group is today announcing 305 role reductions, mainly across our branch network, in addition to some other central functions.
“The changes in roles are in line with our plan to adapt to and meet the changing needs of our customers and as a result we also today announcing the creation of 925 new roles.
“These new roles form part of the £3 billion commitment we have made over the course of our next strategic plan to focus strongly on technology and people, equipping teams with the specific skills to advise and support our customers.”
The spokesperson added: “The group’s policy is always to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible to retain their expertise and knowledge within the group.
“Since 2011, over 90 per cent of role reductions have been achieved through a combination of natural attrition, redeployment and voluntary redundancy.
“Where it is necessary for employees to leave the company, we will look to achieve this by offering voluntary redundancy. Compulsory redundancies will always be a last resort.
“Today’s announcement involves making difficult decisions, and we are committed to working through these changes in a careful and sensitive way.”
Jonathan Reynolds, MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, said: “I was extremely frustrated to receive a call from Lloyds Bank informing me of their plan to close their Stalybridge branch.
“I understand the use of internet banking is increasing but the big banks are shutting too many branches and not thinking enough about the full range of their customers.
“These decisions have an impact – we know, for instance, that lending to local businesses suffers when a branch is closed.”
The new micro-banks are walk in branches staffed by two people and designed to help customers manage their online banking.
The bank announced it was closing 100 branches in October 2017 and the latest cuts will come into effect this summer.
