Town to be left with no high street bank

Lloyds Bank on Gorleston High Street is expected to close in January 2025

A coastal town is set to be left with no high street bank.

Lloyds Bank in Gorleston, Norfolk, will close on 20 January 2025.

The bank said it was due to more customers banking online.

Kevin Huggins, chair of Gorleston Traders Association, said he was concerned about the impact on small businesses and the elderly.

"This will affect footfall in the town which will then impact small businesses," he said.

"I also don't how the elderly will cope as many don't use modern technology so they still need somewhere to bank."

Lloyds Banking Group announced it would be closing 60 branches in total between October 2024 and June 2025.

They include 28 Lloyds Bank, 17 Halifax and 15 Bank of Scotland branches.

Lloyds Bank said it will contact affected customers

In a statement, Lloyds Bank said: "Before we close any branch, we look at how our customers are managing their money and using the branch.

"Most customers are now using our mobile banking app, internet banking or calling us instead.

"This means they are using branches, including our Gorleston-on-Sea branch much less."

'We need a banking hub'

Lloyds said almost 1,000 customers used its Gorleston branch each month, with 5% of them being business customers.

It highlighted alternative local banking services, including the town's Post Office and ATMs.

Mr Huggins said Gorleston used to have five high street banks which have "all gone in the last five years”.

"I seriously hope we can push now for a hub now so that we can have one representative from each bank in the town," he added.

Banking hubs allow customers from any bank to withdraw cash, deposit money and cheques, and access five community bankers throughout the week.

There are already a number of banking hubs across Norfolk.