Your assist helps us to inform the story
From reproductive rights to local weather change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the bottom when the story is creating. Whether it is investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our newest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light-weight on the American girls combating for reproductive rights, we all know how necessary it’s to parse out the information from the messaging.
At such a vital second in US historical past, we want reporters on the bottom. Your donation permits us to maintain sending journalists to talk to either side of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans throughout the whole political spectrum. And not like many different high quality information shops, we select to not lock Americans out of our reporting and evaluation with paywalls. We consider high quality journalism ought to be obtainable to everybody, paid for by those that can afford it.
Your assist makes all of the distinction.
Customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland will be capable of use the branches of any model for in-person banking because the group continues to shake up its department community, elevating considerations amongst unions over potential additional closures.
Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three manufacturers, mentioned the modifications had been excellent news for purchasers because it provides them extra alternative and adaptability. But the transfer raised some considerations that it may set off a contemporary wave of department closures.
Nationwide Building Society lately revealed that that they had seen a 16 per cent rise in non-Nationwide clients using their ATMs to withdraw cash, partly on account of department closures by banks.
A spokesperson for Lloyds mentioned: “We’re at all times in search of methods to make banking simpler and extra versatile for our prospects so, from later this yr, we’ll provide prospects of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland the choice to make use of branches of any model for his or her in-person banking, alongside our apps, cellular messaging, and phone companies.”
Call centre employees for the banking group at present assist prospects of all manufacturers who contact for assist.
The modifications will imply some prospects could have entry to a department that’s nearer to their house as a result of they are going to be capable of entry face-to-face banking whatever the model.
Lloyds has not but confirmed a date for the shake-up nevertheless it is because of come into impact later in 2025.
However, an unbiased commerce union for Lloyds staff, BTU, warned that the choice may pave the way in which for the financial institution to close extra of its high-street websites.
BTU mentioned a separate presentation, seen by the union, confirmed {that a} quarter of its department community shares the identical location.
This may due to this fact immediate closures in areas the place there’s at present a couple of Lloyds model with an open department, the union mentioned in a message to members.
It is known that BTU will not be recognised as an official union so its members don’t interact with Lloyds.
Lloyds has introduced a raft of department closures in recent times because it properties in on digital banking, which is utilized by some 22 million prospects, whereas it says in-person banking use has fallen sharply. The newest batch of closures will see 55 branches depart excessive streets in places throughout the UK this yr.
