Lloyds Bank has applied for permission to remove the two ATMs on the frontage of its premises on Broad Street (25/00934/LBC). It will also replace internal doors to remove insignia and bring them up to fire safety standards (25/01015/LBC). This is ahead of the closure of the branch on 20 May. The building is Grade II listed.
The loss of the ATMs will reduce outlets for cash withdrawals in the town centre (also checking balances and other services). The remaining cash tills will be at Nationwide and NatWest on Bullring, and a Tesco cash till at One Stop on Tower Street. There is also an ATM in Spar, though not 24 hours. Out of town there is an ATM at Sainsbury’s.
I am concerned about this reduction in access to cash. Many people draw cash for a night out or when visiting our food festivals in order to control their spending. So many of us have found that overspending is easy when all you have to do is wave a card. Some people, especially older people, are not comfortable with digital cash.
We are approaching the point where we will need a Banking Hub in the town. A hub will be essential if our NatWest branch closes.
Banking Hubs are owned by Cash Access and run by the Post Office. They provide services for Barclays Bank, HSBC UK, Lloyds Banking Group, NatWest Group, Santander, AIB NI, Bank of Ireland UK, Danske Bank, TSB and Virgin Money.
Having looked at towns which have Banking Hubs (there are hundreds across the UK), we are unlikely to qualify for a hub while we still have one bank. But if there is a threat to NatWest (which like all banks has been closing branches, especially in rural areas), we are likely to qualify and we should not hesitate in making an application.
The Lloyds Bank building would be ideal for a Banking Hub. If that is the case, an ATM will need to be put back in.
Theres an ATM at Tesco supermarket as well.