Lloyds Banking Group is preparing to close another 26 branches across the UK in October, dealing a fresh blow to customers who rely on face-to-face banking.
The latest closures will affect both Lloyds Bank and Halifax as more customers move towards digital and online services.
The branches will shut on a rolling basis between October 1 and October 29, with closures stretching from Cornwall to Tyneside.
The first to close will be the Lloyds Bank branch at 58 Yorkshire Street in Rochdale on Thursday, October 1.
In total, 23 Lloyds Bank branches across England, Wales and the Isle of Wight will close during the month, alongside three Halifax locations.
The affected Halifax branches are in Buxton on Spring Gardens, Camborne on 31 Trelowarren Street and Leamington Spa.
The closures form part of a wider shift away from traditional high street banking as more customers manage their money online.
Lloyds Banking Group, which operates Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, said changing customer habits can make it necessary to close or relocate physical branches.
The latest announcement also comes as Halifax prepares to disappear from Britain’s high streets after 173 years.
Following its acquisition by Lloyds, existing Halifax account holders are being transferred to Lloyds-branded services, with the process expected to be completed by November 1.
Lloyds said it remained committed to the town of Halifax and the wider Yorkshire and Humber region | GETTY
Once the remaining Halifax locations have closed, the brand, which has served customers since the mid-nineteenth century, will operate solely online under the Lloyds Banking Group umbrella.
The October closures mark the latest stage in the continuing decline of traditional bank branches across Britain’s high streets.
Among the earliest to go are Barnsley on 50 Cheapside and Chatham on 142-146 High Street, both closing on 5 October, followed the next day by Camborne at Market Square, Chepstow at 7 Manor Way, and Ryde at 35 Union Street on 7 October.
Birmingham’s Harborne branch and Deal follow on 8 October, with Gorseinon, Southampton’s Totton branch and South Shields all closing on 12 October.
Once the remaining Halifax locations have closed, the brand will operate solely online under the Lloyds Banking Group umbrella
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GETTYBlackpool and Stamford shut on 13 October, Bristol’s Knowle on 14 October, and Rotherham and St Helens on 15 October.
Later in the month, Gateshead closes on 19 October, Devizes and Widnes on 21 October, Chesterfield on 22 October, Nottingham’s Arnold branch on 27 October, Llandudno on 28 October, and Braintree on 29 October.
Lloyds Banking Group emphasised that it carefully considers the effect on customers before making network changes.
“When making changes to our branch network, we always look to understand the impact on our customers – including how they continue to access banking services,” the bank said.
The group pointed to a range of alternatives still available to those who prefer face-to-face or in-person transactions.
A spokesperson previously told MoneyWeek: “With access to one of the biggest branch networks in the UK, alongside local banking options like our Community Bankers, the Post Office, PayPoint, plus our leading apps and 24/7 messaging service, we offer our customers more choice and convenience than ever before.”
Account holders with any of the group’s three brands Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland, can also carry out routine banking at branches belonging to the other two.
Full list:
Lloyds
- Barnsley (50 Cheapside) – October 5
- Birmingham – Harborne (125 High Street) – October 8
- Blackpool (30 Corporation Street) – October 13
- Braintree (2–4 Bank Street) – October 29
- Bristol – Knowle (284 Wells Road) – October 14
- Camborne (Market Square) – October 7
- Chatham (142–146 High Street) – October 5
- Chepstow (7 Manor Way) – October 7
- Chesterfield (30 Rose Hill) – October 22
- Deal (2 High Street) – October 8
- Devizes (38 Market Place) – October 21
- Gateshead (Jackson House, 24–26 Jackson Street) – October 19
- Gorseinon (113 High Street) – October 12
- Llandudno (22 Mostyn Street) – October 28
- Nottingham – Arnold (76 Front Street) – October 27
- Rochdale (58 Yorkshire Street) – October 1
- Rotherham (9 Wellgate) – October 15
- Ryde (35 Union Street) – October 7
- Southampton – Totton (30 Commercial Road) – October 12
- South Shields (101 King Street) – October 12
- St Helens (13–15 Hardshaw Street) – October 15
- Stamford (65 High Street) – October 13
- Widnes (23–24 Albert Square) – October 21
Halifax
- Buxton (Spring Gardens) – October 13
- Camborne (31 Trelowarren Street) – October 7
- Leamington Spa – October 20