Lloyds bank announces closing date

MICKLEOVER’S last bank will close later this month.

In October, Lloyds announced its branch in The Parade, Uttoxeter Road, Mickleover, was to shut. The closing date has now been confirmed as Tuesday, January 29. A spokesperson for Lloyds Bank said: “Following a careful review, the Mickleover branch will close on 29 January 2019. We have made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often. In addition, the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. Customers can continue to access their banking locally by visiting the nearby post office, which is less than half a mile from the branch.”

The bank cited a decrease in customers as a reason for the closure, highlighting counters at the Mickleover branch are 15% quieter than a year ago.

A Lloyds report adds that only 39 customers use the branch on a regular weekly basis, while 486 use it on a monthly basis. It also confirms 46% fewer personal customers use the branch compared to a typical Lloyds Bank. There has been 17% fewer counter transactions made when compared to the national average.

Despite personal customers making 31% more self-service or machine transactions than at a typical Lloyds branch, the bank confirmed it would not be maintaining its ATM machine in Mickleover. The bank instead listed other free-to-use cash machines in the area. Those include the nearby Tesco in Kipling Drive, Marks & Spencer Fairway BP petrol station in Uttoxeter Road and the Nationwide Building Society, also in Uttoxeter Road.

The Nationwide branch also provides banking services, including the facility to open current accounts. A Nationwide spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that the Nationwide branch will remain in Mickleover. We would be pleased to welcome the local community to join and become members of Nationwide Building Society.”