Lloyds confirms closure of Bournemouth high street bank

Lloyds Bank has announced it is to close its Kinson branch in Wimborne Road on September 27 following an “in-depth review”. 

The bank said in the 12 months to January 2023, it had just 86 customers use the branch regularly and that 84 per cent of its customers using it also use internet banking or PhoneBank. 

A spokesman for Lloyds said: “The world is becoming more digital than ever before and more of our customers are doing their everyday banking online.  

Lloyds in Wimborne Road, Kinson (Image: Google Maps)

“With more customers choosing to use digital ways to bank and manage their money, visits at this branch have fallen.  

“As a result, we've made the difficult decision to close it. 

“We’re still here to support you and there’s a number of ways you can do your everyday banking with us - online, on your mobile, over the phone or at a Post Office.

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“You can use any of our branches and the nearest alternative is the Winton Bournemouth branch.” 

Cllr Cameron Adams, ward councillor for Kinson, said: “It is obviously disappointing to hear about the impending closure of Lloyds bank in Kinson, especially for those in our community without access to mobile or internet banking.  

“I know this will be a worry especially to those who are elderly or vulnerable. 

“Whilst decisions on the closing of branches is a purely operational matter for the banks themselves, it is sadly a pattern we have seen up and down the country.  

“I hope Lloyds do all they can to raise awareness of the alternatives to their customers, especially those who are elderly and vulnerable, such as the Post Office which is also on the high street.” 

Cllr Michelle Dower, fellow ward councillor, added she is “disappointed” at the closure of Kinson’s only bank. 

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She said: “This is a key presence in Wimborne Road and it will be missed by our residents, particularly the elderly and disabled, and those with young children to care for.” 

The closure is part of a cull of branches by Lloyds in which it announced it would be closing 21 banks nationwide. 

Lloyds said that across its brands more than 20 million customers regularly use online banking, and that visits to the 53 branches it is shutting have dropped by an average of 55 per cent in the last half-decade.