Plea for Lloyds branch rethink

SMAll businesses have called on lloyds to end branch closures after profits climbed to £1.6bn.

lloyds has shut hundreds of branches since cost- cutting boss Antonio Horta-osorio took charge in 2011, and announced plans to ditch another 49 outlets last week.

lloyds is regaining its reputation as a money-maker as profits rose to £1.6bn for the first three months of 2018, up 23pc on a year earlier.

Mike Cherry of the Federation of Small Businesses said: ‘The public was there for the bank during the financial crash. It’s high time that support was returned. When a town loses a branch it hurts vulnerable consumers, footfall and small business revenues.’ lloyds finance chief George Culmer said branches were a vital part of its plans but did not rule out further closures.