A Merseyside town is to see two of its lifeline banks on the same street shut within seven days of each other.
West Kirby’s Santander bank closed on June 20, while the Lloyds branch which sits next door on Grange Road on will shut its doors for good on June 27, reports Business Live.
The closures are among hundreds that have hit Merseyside and the North West - with 425 branches having fallen victim to the chop since 2015.
In terms of the West Kirby closures, Wirral West MP Margaret Greenwood has expressed sadness at the news, raising fears over the negative impact it could have on the seaside town.
She said: “I am disappointed that West Kirby will lose two of its banks’ branches this week.
“These closures will be a blow to the many local people, especially long-standing customers who use the bank regularly.
“I am particularly concerned about the impact these closures will have on vulnerable people, including those who may not be able to bank online or travel to the next nearest branch.”
She also raised fears over the effect on local firms, with the town home to various independent cafés, shops and restaurants.
Ms Greenwood said: “There is also a concern that local businesses may see a reduction in footfall as a result of these branches closing. Bank branches are a key feature of the high street and closures will have an inevitable impact on the local economy.”
She added that two thirds of bank branches have closed nationally over the past 30 years - and said there should be a consultation before any future closures.
When Lloyds announced it would close the store back in March, a statement on the banking giant’s website said it was due to declining usage. Similarly, when Santander announced it was to close in January, it cited a “dramatic” change in the way its customers use banks.
Barclays and Natwest are now the last two remaining banks in West Kirby.
The two West Kirby closures are among an estimated 425 closures of bank branches in the North West since 2015 - the highest number of any region.
Cashplus, an alternative banking service, says closures have had a “significant impact” on how small and medium-sized businesses are run. It hopes to service 10% of Liverpool’s new businesses over the next five years.
Inside the Duke Street Food and Drink Market:
The North West has seen more closures than any other UK region, and in 2017, Liverpool saw the number of business closures increase by 25.8% compared to 2016.
