Two banks in Leek are set to close within days of each other. This leaves the town with fewer banking options as customers shift to online services.
Leek: It’s a tough time for banking in Leek. Halifax just announced it will close its branch on June 4. This comes right after Natwest said its nearby branch will shut on June 16.
Both banks are just 60 meters apart. It’s a real double whammy for the town. Customers are being pushed to online banking, which is why these closures are happening.
Lloyds Banking Group is shutting down 136 branches by next March. They say more than 20 million customers are using their apps for banking now. So, they’re cutting back on physical locations.
After these closures, Leek will have two empty bank buildings in just 12 days. That’s not great for the town center, which will feel the impact.
But don’t worry too much. Lloyds says they’ll offer jobs to all affected workers. They want to make sure no one is left without options.
Customers can still use other branches or even the Post Office for their banking needs. There are over 11,000 Post Office locations available for everyday banking.
Since February 2022, nearly 1,800 bank branches have closed or announced plans to close. That’s about 50 closures a month! It’s a big shift in how we do banking these days.
With these changes, the LINK initiative is stepping in. It aims to help vulnerable customers and small businesses adapt to the cashless world. They’re working to set up banking hubs where needed.
