14 June 2018
Lloyds Bank has committed to ensure 24 hour cash point cover as part of a series of pledges to help the town as it closes the last bank in Upton-upon-Severn. West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin hosted a meeting with the bank’s management and local community representatives to discuss the impact of closing the final branch in Upton. The MP stressed the impact of losing the town’s only 24 hour cashpoint and the bank’s local team agreed to investigate potential solutions. Lloyds has now committed to providing cashpoint machine cover for the town and is identifying permanent long-term solutions. The bank has also agreed to send a custom-built mobile bank to the town to allow Lloyds customers to continue accessing bank services once the branch closes later this year. Lloyds Bank has confirmed that customers are already being encouraged to use the Post Office to bank, which is opposite the branch. Local people can already use the Post Office for a wide range of banking services and the staff are developing plans to cater for the extra demand. Harriett commented: “Lloyds has confirmed that it will ensure Upton keeps a 24 hour cashpoint and will send a mobile bank to the town once a week to help Lloyds customers do their banking. "It is disappointing that the bank has made the decision to close the town’s final bank, particularly after they assured me they would not. It is incumbent on the bank to ensure that the most vulnerable people are properly supported to be able continue their banking as easily as possible. “The cashpoint machine issue was particularly concerning for local people and I am glad the bank’s managers heard the feedback and have agreed to identify a permanent solution. “I plan to keep a dialogue open with the bank as it now starts to plan for closure and urge people who have specific problems with this change to get in touch both with me and the bank.”