Isles of Scilly: Lloyds to close last remaining bank branch

The only bank on the Isles of Scilly is set to close next year.

Lloyds Bank will close its branch on St Mary's on 25 April, 2022.

Phil Moon, who runs a restaurant and takeaway on the island, said the closure had come as a "shock" and would make running his business "more complicated".

Lloyds Bank said the decision was due to changes in customer behaviour meaning the branch was used less often.

Mr Moon said: "We obviously lost Barclays a couple of years ago and Lloyds became the only bank on the island so we never saw this coming."

He said his business regularly used the bank for change stock and for taking cash off the premises for security.

"It was a shock, and quite an unpleasant one at that, I'm pretty disappointed to be honest; it's going to affect all of us and businesses especially."

Steve Sims, the Isles of Scilly councillor for economy, tourism and transport, said: "It's really sad... and it's another blow against the high street".

He added: "We've got three properties right on the high street really which are now vacant."

Lloyds Bank said staff would be on hand to advise and support customers.

A spokesperson added: "A new community banker will be made available to help customers with their everyday banking and customers can also continue to bank locally by visiting the nearby Post Office, which is a short walk away from the branch."

Mr Moon said using the Post Office would see people "who just want to do bank transactions" having to join the queue with those wanting stamps or postal services.

"It's just going to slow things down and make things more complicated," he said.

Lindsay Rodger, Postmaster of the St Mary's Post Office said they were working on finding solutions to help those affected, and making sure there was a "smooth transition" for customers.

She said: "With the bank closing it will mean the loss of the only ATM on the Isles of Scilly and that is a great area of concern for me.

"Without that we will struggle to allow cash to foreign visitors, to people with cash point cards, people with independent banks who do not have the banking facilities through the Post Office.

"And for the vulnerable and the elderly that do not access online."

Ms Rodgers said she was in the process of looking into the possibility of installing an ATM at the Post Office.

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