LLOYDS Bank in Barnards Green Road is to close early next year, it has been announced.
The firm said it made the ‘difficult’ decision to close down the branch because of changing ways customers are banking their money with them.
The branch will close for good on Monday, March 13.
Earlier this year the Observer reported how uncertainty lay ahead for hundreds of Lloyds Bank branches across the country after the bank announced it was to make thousands of jobs cuts and a further 200 closures across the UK.
Up to 3,000 jobs were to go with many branches expected to close by the end of the next year, mainly due to the potential impact of June’s memorable Brexit referendum vote.
It means after its closure there will only be two Lloyds Bank branches in Malvern – one in Belle Vue Terrace and the other on Worcester Road.
A spokesperson from Lloyds Bank said: “We have made the difficult decision to close this branch (Barnards Green) because of the changing way customers choose to bank with us.
“The majority of customers now regularly use alternative branches or use other ways to bank such as online and telephone banking to complete their banking needs.
“We also have another branch close by, Belle Vue Terrace Malvern, which allows us to serve the local area.
“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause and have informed customers of the closest alternative branches.”
The confirmed closure of the Barnards Green branch has led to fears that the branch in nearby Upton-upon-Severn could close as well.
The branch on High Street is regarded as the town’s ‘only’ bank.
West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin raised concerns about the company’s commitment to the town with Lloyds chief executive António Horta-Osório in meetings last year.
The company has also written confirming that the branch is not part of plans to re-structure its network.
The branch reduced opening times but committed to ‘keeping a branch in the community’.
Mrs Baldwin said: “I have been contacted by local residents seeking reassurance that Lloyds’ current round of branch closures will not affect the town.
“I can confirm that I have had a recent written reassurance from Lloyds that the Upton branch is to remain open.”
