Major banks telling customers to use pop-up services in libraries and churches as they shut 254 branches
MAJOR high street banks are telling customers to manage their money in libraries, town halls and churches after they announced plans to close hundreds of branches.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland, which are all part of Lloyds Banking Group, will shut at least 254 bank branches in 2025 and 2026.
When a branch closes a bank must provide an alternative way for its customers to manage their money face-to-face.
At Lloyds and Halifax this includes providing a Community Banker, who can help customers who may no longer have a local branch.
They can give customers help with things like their card, PIN, account management, payments and transfers.
These bankers are given a dedicated space in a community venue or Banking Hub.
Lloyds Community Bankers are available in 100 towns including Rye, Abingdon and Chesham.
Meanwhile, Halifax offers these services in more than 75 towns such as Barry, Stratford Upon Avon and Rugby.
But an investigation by The Sun has found that customers are being asked to visit their local library, church, leisure centre or town hall to get financial advice.
For example, in Brightlingsea, Colchester, Lloyds customers can speak to a Community Banker at the local library on a Wednesday once a fortnight.
In Dewsbury customers must visit the Town Hall on a Thursday each week to speak to a Lloyds employee.
Meanwhile, in Bexhill you can combine a gym session with a conversation with your bank on a Friday at the town’s leisure centre.
While in Clitheroe simply head to the Trinity Methodist Church and Community Hub on a Wednesday.
It’s a similar story for Halifax customers.
In Cleckheaton Halifax customers can speak to a Community Banker on a Monday in one of the counselling rooms at the local health centre.
Meanwhile, in Herne Bay, they can head to the local creative arts centre on a Thursday for financial advice.
What services do banking hubs offer?
BANKING hubs offer a range of services to bridge the gap left by the closure of local branches.
Operated by the Post Office, these hubs allow customers to perform routine transactions such as deposits, withdrawals, and balance enquiries.
Each hub features private booths where customers can discuss more complex banking matters with staff from their respective banks.
Staff from different banks are available on a rotational basis, ensuring that customers have access to a wide range of banking services throughout the week.
Additionally, customers can receive advice and support on various financial products and services, including loans, mortgages, and savings accounts.
Campaigners have slammed the speed of High Street bank branch closures, describing them as an “absolute disgrace”.
Dennis Reed, director of campaign group Silver Voices said: “Such closures discriminate against older people who are not digitally competent, remove human interaction from banking, make access to cash harder, and undermine the High Street.
“Yes community hubs or community bankers provide a useful back-up but they may not be readily accessible, they do not provide the same security and confidentiality and they are few and far between.”
He added: “In most places once the remaining bank branch closes, so does the banking service for that town or community.”
Why are Halifax and Lloyds closing branches?
Lloyds bank is set to close 116 bank branches in 2025 and 2026.
Halifax will shutter 107 of its branches in the same period.
Meanwhile, 31 Bank of Scotland branches are set to shut.
Lloyds has blamed the decision to shutter branches on customers moving away from banking in person to using mobile services.
Lloyds Group is not the only banking giant to have recently shut branches.
UK banks and building societies have closed around 6,293 branches since January 2015, according to consumer group Which?.
On average, that is equivalent to around two branches shutting every single day for a decade.
Barclays has reduced its network the most of any individual bank, with 1,236 branches now closed, Which? said.
Meanwhile, NatWest Group, which includes NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank, has closed 1,431 branches.
This is the most of any banking group.
What alternatives are there for face-to-face banking?
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland can visit a branch of any of the three banks to do their everyday banking.
This includes making cash deposits, withdrawals and paying in cheques.
But this may be a temporary solution as this branch could end up closing too.
Another option is to visit a banking hub.
These are shared spaces where customers from multiple banks can pay in and withdraw cash or get face-to-face support to help them manage their accounts.
There are 139 hubs that are up and running, with more set to open in the coming months.
You can check if there is a hub near you using the Post Office’s website.
Another option is to head to a local Post Office.
You can access your personal bank account in branch and pay in or withdraw cash and check your balance.
You can find your local Post Office branch on its website.
Lloyds Banking Group was approached for comment.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories