The Lloyds bank branch in Withernsea is to close for good today.
It was announced in 2023 that the last remaining high-street bank in the town would close after a fall in the number of customers using it.
In response to the closure a report was commissioned by Lloyds to determine the need for banking provisions in the area.
The report said: “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. We’re responding to the way our customers use our branches.
“We’ll continue to invest in our branch network, but we must 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, most customers are also using alternative ways to bank.”
The bank was originally due to close on September 12, 2023. However, the review saw the date pushed back to March 27.
Withernsea is set to receive a new permanent banking hub run by LINK, the UK’s Cash Access and ATM network, a not-for-profit organisation that assesses the need for banking spaces within communities. A location for this has not yet been announced.
In a bid to bridge the gap between the closure of the Lloyds branch and the establishment of the new banking hub, the Shores Centre opened a temporary hub at its Seaside Road premises in February.
This will provide traditional banking services including the withdrawal of cash, deposits of cash or cheques, and payment of utility bills. It will also allow customers to check their account balance. The service is available for both personal and business use.
Meanwhile, the service will also provide a community banker who will be available at different times during the week to speak in person and help with banking inquiries. The services will be available every weekday 9am to 5pm.
Mondays will be HSBC, Tuesdays Lloyds, Wednesdays Santander, Natwest on Thursdays and Halifax on Fridays.
Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart said: “Since Lloyds announced last year that they would be closing their branch in Withernsea, I have had months of meetings and updates with councillors Healing, Holmes and McMaster and Cash Access UK to protect the banking services in the town.
“I am delighted that a banking hub opened in the Shores Centre last month where Lloyd’s customers can go on Tuesdays for a face-to-face meeting with a community banker, and which customers of all main high street banks can visit Monday-Friday to pay in cash and cheques, check their bank balance and pay their utility bills.
“While this is positive news, there is more to be done. What Withernsea needs is a permanent home for the banking hub, and I will continue to work closely with the councillors and Cash Access UK to deliver this as soon as possible.”
