YET another out-of-town bank is to close after Lloyds announced its Les Quennevais branch will shut in December, blaming a fall in customer transactions of almost a third between 2018 and 2023.
Age Concern said the decision would hit those with mobility problems hard, and it accused the bank of putting the interests of its shareholders and management ahead of those of its customers.
The charity’s chairman, Ben Shenton, said high numbers of older people were not online for a variety of reasons, including the cost and a lack of computer or digital skills.
Meanwhile, St Brelade Deputy Jonathan Renouf called the decision “very disappointing news”, describing the bank’s explanation as “bland”, while parish Constable Mike Jackson said it was “regrettable”.
The closure means that HSBC in Les Quennevais is the only bank branch outside town, with no branches to serve parishioners in the north or east of the Island.
Lloyds said customers could use its Broad Street branch and continue to bank with them using online, mobile and telephone banking. It said it was contacting local customers to let them know about the “alternate local banking services available”.
But writing on social media, Deputy Renouf said the company’s announcement “fails to capture how much those customers who do use the bank depend upon it”.
Mr Jackson said that while parishioners still had a branch of HSBC at Les Quennevais, Lloyds’ decision to close was “regrettable” because it marked a further decline in over-the-counter services. “But I suppose we will just have to face up to reality and move to the modern ways,” Mr Jackson added.
Commenting on the reasons why older Islanders were not online, Mr Shenton said: “Some have concerns about security issues amid frequent reports of scams and financial abuse, and are frequently told to visit their local branch if they have any concerns – a task that in itself is becoming increasingly difficult.
“In addition, it is not uncommon for older people to face increasing physical disabilities such as sight loss, hearing loss or arthritis, or cognitive decline which can make it difficult to remember passwords and security codes.”
He added: “Banks used to be there to serve their customers; today their shareholders and management seem to take priority.”
The latest announcement follows a wave of such closures over the past decade. HSBC closed its Five Oaks branch last month, two years after Lloyds took the same decision regarding its St Saviour premises. Meanwhile, NatWest’s closure of its St Aubin operation nine years ago was followed by the loss of branches at Longueville and Les Quennevais.
Currently, Lloyds’ St Brelade branch at Les Quennevais is open on weekdays from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with a range of accessible services including wheelchair access, support for those with hidden disabilities and acceptance of assistance dogs, in addition to provision of longer appointments on request.
But the bank said that between 2018 and 2023 counter transactions at the branch had fallen by 32%, demonstrating a preference for ease, convenience and 24/7/365 access to finances. It will close on 13 December.
A bank spokesperson said: “Mobile banking is more popular than ever, with visits to our St Brelade branch falling significantly over time. Customers can continue to bank with us through our app, online and over the phone, alongside accessing cash at nearby free-to-use ATMs.”
