ANOTHER bank branch is to disappear from Tameside’s high streets after Lloyds decided to close the doors to its Hyde branch.
Not even a cash machine will be left once it shuts on June 21.
And the town’s MP, Jonathan Reynolds, has hit out at the way the decision has been communicated, even though he is listed as one of the people they will get in touch with.
The branch, which stands on Clarendon Place as part of the Clarendon Square Shopping Centre, will close after the bank looked at usage figures.
Even though it found 417 people had regularly used it in the year until July, 40 per cent of personal customers had also used other branches, some 74 per cent had also used other branches, Internet Banking or PhoneBank and 29 per cent of personal customers had also used the Post Office.
“Like many other high street businesses, we’ve seen people using our branches less frequently in recent years as more customers choose to do most of their everyday banking online,” Lloyds said.
“We’re responding to the way our customers use our branches. We’ll continue to invest in our branch network, but we have to make sure our branches are where customers need and use them most.
“As a result, we’ve made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often.
“In addition, the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank.”
Lloyds insists the nearest branch will be at Ashton but they also revealed the cash point will also go.
It added: “We’ll be closing the machine at the Hyde branch, but nearby free-to-use cash machines are at Halifax, Morrisons and Hyde Bus Station.
“We’ve shared the closure plans for this branch with LINK, who on behalf of the Cash Action Group have independently assessed the access to cash needs of the local community.
“By regularly reviewing our branches, we can make sure we respond to our customers’ changing needs.”
MP Reynolds is listed as one of the people Lloyds will contact after making the decision, others include councillors, the banking team and senior representatives from the Post Office, Tameside District Citizens Advice Bureau, Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce and Mental Health UK , the Alzheimer’s Society and Age UK.
However, the politician did not wait for them to get in touch as he blasted: “I’m pretty angry to learn that the Clarendon Square branch will close on June 21.
“I understand that staff will all be redeployed, with no redundancies, but my thoughts are with them all as they process their workplace disappearing from under them.
“Frankly I’m absolutely fed up with these decisions being presented to long-term customers as a fete accomplis without so much as query as to how local traders and vulnerable customers will be affected.
“A Labour Government will require high street banks to consult with their communities.”
I am very upset specially like me who are a regular customer for lloyds bank in hyde what will happen to them like me some people don’t fo online banking prefer face to face. Shame in hyde we don’t have a dingle decent shops gor afultsorgor children now moving bank.