Skip to content

Two Fenland towns to lose more banking facilities

JOHN DEVINE/BBC The outside of Lloyds Bank branch in Wisbech, a red-brick building with a row of cars parked outside. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Lloyds Bank in Wisbech is expected to close in January 2025

Two rural towns are expected to lose their High Street bank branches.

A branch of Lloyds Bank is set to close in the town of March, Cambridgeshire, on 12 November, and in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, branches of Lloyds and Halifax will shut on 22 January.

One Wisbech resident said she was "devastated" that Lloyds was going as she had banked with them for 55 years.

Lloyds and Halifax said footfall had dropped at their Fenland branches and that more customers were doing their business via banking apps and online.

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Daniel Gray smiles at the camera as he squints as he stands directly in the sun. He is wearing a white hoodie sweatshirt and is photographed on a high street with shops in the background. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Daniel Gray, 36, says he has two children with autism and he thinks they might struggle to bank remotely

"It is a real shame that we are losing these face-to-face services," said 36-year-old Daniel Gray from Parson Drove, near Wisbech.

"It is far more reassuring to have that point-to-point contact, especially in more complex financial matters.

"I have two children who have autism, I'm not sure they would be able to work with remote online banking systems, it might be too complicated for them."

JOHN DEVINE/BBC A smiling Abbie Chambers looks directly at the camera in a purple top and silver necklace. She is photographed in a street. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Abbie Chambers says for Wisbech residents will have to travel to King's Lynn to visit a Lloyds bank branch

Bridget Holmes, 81, lives in Wisbech and said she has been a customer Lloyds Bank for 55 years.

"I'm devastated both for myself and the town, another facility we are losing.

"I like personal contact with staff I have got to know well, I come once a week just to check my bank balance. It gets me out, I can socialise.

"I could do it at home on the computer, but I'm worried about being hacked."

JOHN DEVINE/BBC Bridget Holmes is photographed standing on a bridge smiling at the camera. She is a wearing a blue anorak and red glasses. JOHN DEVINE/BBC
Bridget Holmes says she is devastated that Lloyds is shutting in Wisbech

A Lloyds Bank spokesperson said: “As many customers now choose to bank through their mobile app or online, visits to our Wisbech and March branches have fallen in recent years.

"The local Post Office in each town offers everyday banking, with cash also available at close by free-to-use ATMs. Customers can also manage their money through our mobile banking apps, online, by calling us or speaking to a community banker.”

A Halifax spokesperson said, "79% of our personal customers already use other ways of banking.

"The nearby Post Office in Wisbech, is a two-minute walk away and offers customers everyday banking services, access to cash, paying in of cheques and more.

"The nearest free-to-use ATM is a short walk away and there are eight free-to-use ATMs within a quarter of a mile of the closing branch.

"Customers can use any Halifax branch for their banking, alongside other options such as the Post Office, online, mobile and telephone banking."

Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Related stories