Lloyds Banking Group to close 136 more branches, blaming flight to online services
Lloyds Banking Group is closing 136 branches across its network, including six Lloyds Bank branches in the North West and 11 Halifax branches across the region.
The group said it will close a total of 61 Lloyds, 61 Halifax, and 14 Bank of Scotland sites between May this year and March 2026.
It blamed the move on customers shifting away from banking in person to using online services, although some customers would argue they only use online banking because their local branches have closed.
The banking giant said none of the staff affected by the closures would lose their jobs and would be found alternative roles within the group.
Earlier this month Lloyds announced it will close a large office in Speke, south Liverpool, which deals with fraud and customer services in a move which will affect almost 500 staff.
Some currently work from home, but others have been told they will have to transfer to a Chester operation.
Unite the Union national officer, Dominic Hook, said at the time: “The proposed closure of the large Lloyds Banking Group centre in Liverpool Speke is a huge mistake. The impact on the hundreds of staff and the region will be significant and is wholly unnecessary.”
A Lloyds spokesperson said today: “Over 20 million customers are using our apps for on-demand access to their money and customers have more choice and flexibility than ever for their day-to-day banking.
“Alongside our apps, customers can also use telephone banking, visit a community banker or use any Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland branch, giving access to many more branches.
“Customers can also do their everyday banking at over 11,000 branches of the Post Office or in a Banking Hub.”
The Lloyds Bank branches set to shut in the North West are: Bolton, Bury, Leyland, Liverpool Breck Road, Manchester Moston and Manchester Newton Heath.
Halifax branches in the North West set to close are: Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool Lytham Road, Bolton, Crewe, Fleetwood, Nelson, Northwich, Southport, St Annes, Wallasey and Wilmslow.
