Axminster Town Council fights closure of Lloyds Bank branch

Axminster Town Council and Axminster Chamber of Commerce have said they will continue to fight the closure of the town's last remaining bank. 

It was announced in July that Lloyds Bank would be closing its Axminster branch in November, with all customers switched to the Seaton branch.

Having been approached by Axminster Chamber of Commerce and several concerned residents, the town council contacted local MP Richard Foord and various directors of the Lloyds Banking Group, as well as economic officers at both East Devon and Devon County councils, and the Financial Conduct Authority. 

In response, Lloyds Banking Group said it appreciated that the closure of the Axminster branch would be "disappointing" for some, the ways in which customers choose to bank was changing, with most "now using more than one channel to do their banking".

It was added that only 90 customers used the Axminster branch on a regular basis, and they had seen a decline in transactions carried out over the past five years, even before the coronavirus pandemic, which then increased the pace at which customers were adopting alternatives ways of banking.

Lloyds added that some banking transactions could also be carried out in Axminster's post office.

The response continued: "The decision to close a branch is based on careful analysis which considered more then 100 different measures to assess the impact that it will have on the community, as well as considering the other ways customers can access banking in the area."

A statement from Axminster Town Council said: "We will continue to fight with the Chamber to prevent the closure of our last remaining bank branch and we heartily encourage residents and business owners to make their own representations so that the Lloyds Bank directorate understand the passion of feeling in Axminster with regard to this matter."