Lloyds closure will leave Bingham with no banks

Bingham, a town with a population of more than 9,000, will be left without a bank from May next year when Lloyds closes its Eaton Place branch.

Lloyds Banking Group decided to close the branch due to what it described as the changing ways customers chose to bank with them which had resulted in the branch being used less often.

It said almost 70% of customers in Bingham already used other branches and other ways to bank such as online and telephone banking.

The nearest branch of Lloyds will be on Parliament Street, Nottingham, but Bingham customers will have their accounts transferred to the branch at St Peter's Hill, Grantham, which is 14.6 miles away.

Personal and business customers have been told that they can use the Post Office on Union Street for withdrawing their money, checking their balance, paying in cheques and money.

Lloyds is also introducing a mobile branch which will service the Bingham area and will give customers access to banking services.

Natwest closed its branch on Church Street, Bingham, in September.

Disaster for the town

Mr Rowan Bird, the Mayor of Bingham, said the closure of Lloyds would be a disaster for the town.

"The nearest proper banks are going to be in Newark, Nottingham or Grantham," he said.

"Pretty much the same thing happened in Radcliffe and it's not good for anybody.
"It's very much the banks making their own rules.

"The real problem will be for older people who don't easily have transport, want to get cash out and will have to rely on the Post Office which is already busy."

A spokesman for Lloyds Banking Group said its new mobile branch would provide a vital service which would give customers access to everyday banking services such as making deposits, withdrawing cash and paying bills.

"Our mobile branch colleagues will also be on hand to help customers access online banking and answer any general account or product enquiries," said the spokesman.

"We have made the difficult decision to close the Lloyds Bank branch in Bingham in May next year due to the changing ways customers choose to bank with us, which has resulted in the branches being used less often.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and will be speaking to customers about the new mobile branch services, which will be operational prior to the branch closing, as well as their nearest alternative branch, which is Parliament Street, Nottingham."

Full details of the mobile branch service will be confirmed in the near future and will be available before the new service is operational. Servicing hours will depend on anticipated demand.

The mobile branch will include disabled access including a disabled lift allowing wheelchair access, and a hearing loop will be installed.