Another 28 Lloyds branches to be closed, union claims

According to Unite the Union, the company was set to close 28 branches, affecting 69 full-time staff.

The news came two months after the FTSE 100 banking conglomerate announced the closure of 60 branches.

“The branch closure announcement today that another profit-making financial institution is failing to consider the needs of consumers and staff beggars belief,” said Unite national officer Caren Evans.

“This news is another example of a bank choosing to walk away from the communities who need access to banking.

“The actions of Lloyds Banking Group over the last few months are completely inexcusable - the management is letting down customers and their dedicated workforce.”

Evans said the closures would leave some customers more than 10 miles from their closest bank branch.

“This is a betrayal of some of the most vulnerable, elderly and socially excluded in our communities who need local access to community banking.”

Lloyds was yet to make an official announcement on the reported closure plans by midday on Wednesday.

Unite claimed that, across the financial services sector, more than 5,000 bank and building society branches had been cut from high streets since 2015.

It said the latest closure programme would leave Lloyds Banking Group with 1,387 branches, with the company announcing the closure of 48 last October and 44 in June last year.

At 1208 BST, shares in Lloyds Banking Group were up 0.84% at 44.17p.

Reporting by Josh White at Sharecast.com.