Priti presses bank on planned closures
Witham MP Priti Patel has recently met with Mark Sweeney, Group Public Affairs Director and Gurinder Jhans, Manager Group Public Affairs at Lloyds Banking Group, to discuss their planned closure of both the Halifax and Lloyds bank branches in Witham by the end of November.
During their meeting, Priti raised her concerns regarding these plans, and the impact it will have on customers of both banks, as well as the wider implications on access to cash and banking services in the town centre.
In setting out their proposals to close both branches, Lloyds Banking Group have referenced a fall in customers using branches and instead choosing to bank online. However, Priti laid out her clear concerns about the way in which the bank has forced customers into online banking, therefore resulting in the loss of face-to-face banking advice for her constituents and for local businesses whose banking facilities and cash deposit services are with Lloyds Banking Group. Priti also questioned Mr Sweenney and Mr Jhans on the impact this will have on the Post Office, and the ability for that location to meet the demand there will now be in the town, given other bank branch closures that have already taken place.
Priti said:
“Witham is a growing town with more people and businesses choosing to establish their lives in this part of Essex. We need reliable local banking facilities and the closure of both the Halifax and Lloyds bank branches in Witham will be felt by many in the town and surrounding villages.
I was pleased to meet with representatives from Lloyds Banking Group to express my concerns and those of my constituents about these closures. The mission creep of online banking that big banks have pushed upon their customers will have huge impacts on my constituents lives, and adds more pressure on the local Post Office, which is already serving as a place to bank in person for many residents in the Witham constituency following other bank branch closures in recent years.
While Lloyds Banking Group are moving forward with their decision, I am committed to ensuring local people have access to their cash and in person banking, and will continue to hold Lloyds on the measures and access to services they are required to implement moving as these branches close.”