Lloyds Banking Group to close 44 branches

Lloyds Banking Group is to shut 44 more of its branches later this year, taking to the total closed in 2021 to 100.

The company said the new closures will include 29 Lloyds Bank site and 15 Halifax branches.

Retail director Vim Maru said that changing customer habits was behind the decision. He added: “Like many businesses on the high street, we must change for a future where branches will be used in a different way, and visited less often.”

Lloyds branches to close in the West Midlands include Stony (Stafford), Quinton and Sedgely Dudley, while Halifax sites shutting in the region include Kenilworth and Rugeley.

Unions have condemned the move as a “bitter blow” for customers, staff and local communities. However, the Unite union said it had been given a commitment that the majority of impacted colleagues will be redeployed with some voluntary redundancies.

Unite national officer, Caren Evans said: “The decision by Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) to further erode its presence within our communities is baffling. The closure of 44 more bank branches will deny our communities of essential services such as access to cash and experienced highly trained staff. A local ATM is not a suitable alternative to a staffed bank branch.

“In recent times LBG has spent significant resource to sell its message of ‘Helping Britain Recover’. Unite seriously question how this decision to walk away from local communities promotes this message at a time when the customers will rely on the financial services sector support more than ever.

“Unite does not view the bank branch network as a disposable commodity and the union believes that the branch network has a value far beyond its immediate commerciality. Unite wants to see Lloyds Banking Group invest in the branch network and commit to a meaningful presence in our communities.”