Today I visited Lloyds Bank in St. Ives in order to discuss the forthcoming branch closure.
As local residents may be aware the branch is one of a number earmarked for closure and will cease operations in February 2025. The decision has been taken after assessment of Lloyds’ branch closure criteria and crucially liaison with both LINK and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).
Following on from my post last week I put a number of questions to the team on behalf of impacted residents and was given the following information:
The nearest branch will now be Huntingdon.
Lloyds Bank will be providing a Community Banker in St. Ives going forward (location tbc). This will potentially mean 2-3 staff available to offer face-to-face digital banking services (answering queries, changing direct debits etc…) on specific days, but they will not be able to handle cash/cheques.
St. Ives Post Office (Foundary Walk) will be the location where Lloyds customers should deposit money going forward. The Post Office will be recruiting an additional member of staff in order to create additional capacity. Post Office
staff will also regularly be on hand in the Lloyds branch between now and February to answer questions from customers.
Customers will be encouraged to primarily use digital resources going forward. Lloyds will also be providing “Digi-days” whereby staff will be available in-branch to assist customers who require help accessing digital services.
Lloyds will be proactively contacting customers it has identified as vulnerable in order to provide further assistance in accessing banking services going forward.
Additionally I sought clarity regarding the future of the building itself and made clear that I would like reassurances from Lloyds that the building would not be left vacant or be allowed to become a premises that did not add value to the town centre. I would like to see the town centre improved and will encourage Lloyds to support that, even as they exit the town.
I will continue to monitor the process and liaise with Lloyds over the rest of the year. If you wish to highlight any further issues to me please do not hesitate to contact my parliamentary email address: ben.obesejecty.mp@parliament.uk.
My thanks to the Area Branch Manager Andy, Branch Manager Debbie and Regional Public Affairs Manager Erdoo for their time in discussing the branch closure with me.
More information on the closure can be found below:
https://www.lloydsbank.com/.../lloyds-st-ives-cambridge...
