Warwickshire town’s last bank will be closed next year and replaced by a hub
THERE was fury and frustration in Alcester after the news that the town’s last remaining bank is to close next year.
Lloyds Bank made the announcement on Thursday (27th June) just weeks after completing long-awaited disabled access work on the building at the corner of Bleachfield Street and Stratford Road.
The closure, due to take place on 25th June 2025, is part of a nationwide trend in banking which is leaving small towns without face-to-face contact with staff. Barclays and HSBC, which were both in High Street, have closed in recent years and although some banking can be done through the post office it is “not the same,” say customers.
As well as individual customers, local businesses and charities use the bank to pay in large amounts of cash and say they feel more comfortable with a bank.
As the news broke in town people took to Facebook to air their concerns with comments including:
“After all these years Lloyds Bank finally gives the disabled access to the branch only to close it almost immediately. So cruel.”
“How on earth are we supposed to pay in cash and get change? Oh park in multi-storey car park and carry it all through Stratford town centre and hope for the best…”
According to Lloyds, 80 per cent its personal customers use modern ways of banking, such as mobile and internet banking. It added that transactions at the Alcester branch fell more than 65 per cent between 2019 and 2024.
A spokesperson for the bank said: “As many customers now choose to bank through their mobile app or online visits to our Alcester branch have fallen over recent years.
“Customers can use the local post office for everyday banking, which is a short walk away, and access cash at the nearby free-to-use ATMs.
“Customers can also manage their money online, by calling us, or at the new banking hub once it is up and running.”
She explained that banking hubs have a traditional banking counter run by the post office where customers of main UK banks can deposit and withdraw cash, pay in cheques and check balances.
The proposed banking hub is expected to open some time during the next 12 months, although no site has been identified yet.
As well as a central area for regular banking transactions there will be private spaces where customers can speak to representatives from their own bank for more complicated matters. The banks will be working on a rotating basis, so there will be staff from different banks available on different days.
Michael Garrett, chief executive of Age UK, said of the closure: “The continuing avalanche of bank branch closures means that by the end of this year there will be considerably fewer opportunities for face-to-face banking than there were even just a couple of years ago. The disappearance of face-to-face banking risks cutting a significant minority of the older population out of an essential service, making it difficult if not impossible for them to manage their money and maintain their independence.”
