Lloyds Bank to close 49 branches and axe 100 jobs

Lloyds Banking Group has announced the closure of 49 branches across the country next year, with approximately 100 jobs set to be axed.

The FTSE 100 lender, which returned to private ownership earlier this year after the 2008 bailout, said the decision was motivated by a decline in the number of in-branch transactions. Some 99 jobs are set to go, with closures to affect branches under the Halifax, Bank of Scotland and Lloyds banners.

The former will see six branches shut, while Bank of Scotland and Lloyds will axe 11 and 32 branches respectively. Liverpool, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Norwich are among the cities affected by the closures.

"Customers are increasingly choosing to use digital and mobile channels for their everyday banking needs," a spokesman for the bank said on Wednesday (29 November).

"As a consequence, the number of customers visiting some of our branches has declined in recent years.

"In response to this, we have confirmed the locations of some branches that will close next year across Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland."

The decision was met with disapproval by the Unite union, which accused the banking giant of ignoring its "corporate social responsibilities".

"Lloyds Banking Group needs to halt this unnecessary bank branch closure programme," said Unite national officer Rob MacGregor.

"Local communities are making it clear that the closure of their local branch excludes customers who cannot use digital means to conduct their financial transactions."

In April, Lloyds announced the closure of 100 branches across the country, which resulted in a loss of 352 jobs.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire Building Society announced it would close 13 of its branches, leading the loss of approximately 250 jobs. The bulk of the job losses is understood to be concentrated at the company's Cheltenham office, which is facing closure.

Yorkshire said its decision was motivated by the desire to avoid duplication in the business and ensure it had a "more even spread of branches and agencies across the country".