Lloyds Bank to close Stafford, Brewood and Birmingham branches
Lloyds Bank is shutting branches in Stafford, Brewood and Birmingham as part of a wave of 100 closures nationwide that will result in more than 200 job losses.
The bank is closing one of its two Stafford branches – a landmark building in Lichfield Road – its Colmore Row branch in Birmingham city centre as well as the site in Brewood.
Union Unite said the announcement will affect 54 Lloyds branches, 22 Halifax branches and 24 Bank of Scotland branches.
Rob MacGregor, Unite national officer, said: "The loss of a further 100 local banks will be painful for high streets across the country to absorb.
"Unite is angered that another 200 staff have today been told that their job will be cut due to their branch shutting.
"Lloyds Banking Group's rationale for branch closures is the claimed customer preference towards the use of technology across banking.
"However this simply doesn't ring true when it's clear that many customers still value the face to face engagement with experienced and knowledgeable bank staff.
Lloyds announced last year it would be closing 49 branches in 2017, shutting its bank in Shifnal in October, and closing branches in Broseley in Shropshire and in High Street, Lye, last month. The latest wave of 100 closures will take place between July and October.
"These branch closures – previously announced in July 2016 – are in response to changing customer behaviour, and the reduced number of transactions being made in branches," said a Lloyds spokesman.
"Our branches will continue to play a vital role in our multi-channel approach to meeting the full range of customer needs, and we expect to continue to have the biggest branch network in the UK.
