'Another blow to the high street' - Residents of Kingswinford have their say on branch of Lloyds bank which is set to close

Lloyds Banking Group is to close nine branches across the Midlands - affecting customers of Lloyds Bank, Halifax and Bank of Scotland. Nationally 53 Lloyds branches, 31 Halifax and 11 Bank of Scotland sites will close.

But in Kingswinford, many customers and non-customers saw the death knell of the branch, which will leave only building society Nationwide in the centre of the village, as 'another blow' to the community it has served for over 40 years.

Some didn't know the news until told by the Express & Star reporter, others had been informed by branch staff.  None who heard the news welcomed it, but the branch will close on June 16 and will be joined by branches in Tettenhall and Wednesbury on dates to be confirmed.

Lindon Westwood didn't know the branch was closing. The 82-year-old, when told by the Express & Star, went back inside and had it confirmed by staff at the counter,  who face consultation over their jobs.

He said: "This is the only bank left in Kingswinford and I think it will be a tragedy if it shuts. We will have to go to Dudley or other areas for a branch and I don't drive so I have to catch a bus which is easy to get here but other places are further away.

"I went in today to get a mini statement and nobody said about it closing. As far as internet banking is concerned my wife is that, we have been married over 60 years. She writes everything down and keeps track of it and we use the branch to get any money out or put it in.

"And I feel sorry for the staff because I think internet and telephone banking will be the end for their jobs eventually maybe not immediately but if this goes on there won't be any banks left.

Angela Trapp has lived in Kingswinford for 33 years and although not a customer of Lloyds she said she felt sorry for those who were and lamented the loss of another brand from the town.

She said: "The whole thing is very worrying and it is the older generation I feel sorry for as they may not have a smartphone or be able to use a call centre to do what they can do in branch.

"On a wider scale this is a worrying trend in Kingswinford as we have lost our post office, two other banks and shops seem to be disappearing rapidly without anyone seemingly being able to do anything about it."

There was a steady flow of customers as we spent 40 minutes outside the branch including Colin Nelson who said: "This is a handy place to use, their is a building society around the corner but that isn't always open and only has a cash point in branch where there is one outside at Lloyd's.

"We hear a lot about banking hubs but I understand they will only be open a couple of days a week at most and you won't have the relationship with the staff you get in a regular branch and it is also them I feel sorry for."

In Judson's Fruit and Veg, owner Sharon Judson, who is a customer of Lloyd's was surprised by the news that the bank, round the corner from the shop, was to close as were a number of her customers,

She said; "Apart from me being a customer it is another blow for Kingswinford. We haven't had a post office for years, this is probably the last recognised national brand of bank to be left here and people like to do their shopping and banking in one convenient trip.

"It will affect trade. We have been open 11 years and other things have happened like the parking charges coming in, we will weather the storm.

"But it is not about us, it is about the people of the town, many of whom are elderly, having the convenience and friendliness of neighbourhood shops and banks."