Two more bank branches will close in Huyton Village this year
Huyton Village(Image: Andrew Stenning/Daily Mirror)
People in one part of Merseyside have bemoaned the loss of a vital service, as Lloyds Banking Group confirmed it will close down two more bank branches in Huyton Village. Local residents, as well as Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley, have highlighted the impact on older people, and other vulnerable groups, including the danger of online scams.
The Liverpool ECHO reported on the plight of thousands of people, expected to be cut off after Lloyds Banking Group (LBG) confirmed the closure of three more of its branches in Merseyside, including two in Huyton Village. Knowsley MP Anneliese Midgley expressed her “profound disappointment” about the closures, and called for an urgent meeting with the boss of LBG.
In a letter addressed to Lloyds Banking Group chief executive, Charlie Nunn (dated June 15), Ms Midgley asked the company to provide a justification for its decision to close three of its banks, including Lloyds Bank and Halifax branches in Huyton, both scheduled to close in November.
Ms Midgley wrote: “These closures will have a significant impact on thousands of residents, businesses and community organisations who continue to rely on face-to-face banking services.
“While I recognise the increasing use of online and mobile banking, it is clear that digital services cannot fully replace the role that local branches play within our communities.”
Responding to Ms Midgley’s concerns about branch closures, a spokesperson for Lloyd’s bank confirmed it is in contact with the MP, but did not directly address the questions raised about Huyton.
To gage public opinion on the matter, we visited Huyton Village to ask some of the residents what they thought about LBG’s decision, and how it would impact the community.
We met Julie Graley, 79, has lived in Huyton all her life and has a bank account with Halifax. She had heard about Lloyds Bank’s planned closure, but was surprised to hear about Halifax and it’s upcoming shut down in November.
Julie said it is another example of Huyton Village losing a vital service, adding: “I’m quite comfortable with online banking now, but I feel for some of the older people, and people with disabilities, because it will make it really hard for them.
“A lot of people do rely on cash, and I know some of the businesses around here are cash only, so what will they do now, how will they bank.”
Anneliese Midgley MP has also highlighted the recent decision by LINK not to open a banking hub in Huyton.
In a letter addressed to LINK CEO Josh Howells, the MP highlighted “serious concerns” about the lack of accessible banking service for Huyton residents, and called on the company to reconsider its position.
In response, LINK’s chief commercial officer, Dr Chris Ashton, told us: “We are satisfied that the community continues [to] have good access to cash through the local Post Office and free to use ATMs.”
However, Ms Midgley said that point of view does not reflect the reality for many residents, especially those relying on public transport or with mobility issues.”
This point was also raised by Sandra Audley, 77, who visits Huyton Village several times a week, and has also seen a diminishing range of services, pointing to the closure of her former branch at Santander Bank in 2021.
Sandra said: “I went online, and could also travel to Old Swan to bank there, but not everyone can do that. But more and more banks are closing which is a worry and now there will be none here [in HUyton].
“I’ve now changed to Nationwide, because they are not going to close any branches, they’re a building society, and I think more people will end up doing that because people need bank branches.”
Sandra continued: “There are many older people that are not used to online banking, and when they try to do online, they’re easily scammed, I almost got scammed myself, and that’s a worry for people which doesn’t seem to be understood by the banks making these closure decisions.”
When the ECHO contacted Lloyds Banking Group previously, it said it’s contacting customers to let them know about the alternate local banking services available and to offer support for vulnerable customers.
The company also confirmed staff at the branches in Huyton and Kirkby, will be offered a role at another branch, or in another part of the business.