'Heart ripped out' as Lloyds in Lyndhurst and Totton Halifax to close

ANOTHER raft of local high street bank closures have been announced, with Lloyds in Lyndhurst and Totton's Halifax on the chopping block.

The branches are among 60 shutting nationwide and follows HSBC also revealing plans this month to axe sites in Lymington and Ringwood.

A total of 124 jobs will be lost, with all outlets gone by the end of the year, Lloyds Banking Group announced yesterday (Wednesday) as it blamed record usage of online banking for the decision.

Unite, the union representing staff at Lloyds, said more local communities will "have their heart ripped out".

Caren Evans, Unite national officer, said: “Lloyds Banking Group must not be allowed to abandon 60 more local communities where bank branches play an essential role.

"The 124 employees who work tirelessly in their communities are dedicated to serving the banking needs of the most vulnerable who depend on their skilled services.

“When a bank branch closes, the heart of the local community is ripped out and the results are devastating. Unite is clear that simply leaving an ATM in place of a vibrant bank branch is wholly insufficient.

“The banking sector needs to answer some serious questions about its corporate social responsibilities and the government cannot stand back and allow the relentless closure of banks to continue until no more local banking services remain.”