Townsfolk say they fear future generations will have 'nothing left' after the closure of another bank was announced. Lloyds Bank recently confirmed it will close its Beeston branch off Foster Avenue on May 11.
The company cited a decreased number of visitors to the bank as the reason for the move. The announcement of the Lloyds closure means that it is the third bank in less than a year to announce that it will shut its doors in the area.
Older residents were concerned the closure would make accessing their finances more difficult. Lloyds customer Deryck Sargant, 80, from Chilwell, said: "I've had this happen to me twice now, I've already had to change banks because the other closed. It's very frustrating for me.
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"I'm a bit of a dinosaur so I like to come get my cash and check nothing dodgy has gone on with my account. There will be no paperwork soon, they'll close everything and there will be nothing on the high street once my generation is gone - it'll all be online.
"They say to use Post Offices but now every time I go, the queue is a mile long. It might not affect younger people, but it is quite a big deal for older people."
Matilda Maguire, 69, from Beeston, said: "It's a pain for people. It is a sign of the times, they are all closing [banks]. I'm in there all the time, it's more convenient for people. It's awful for older people, they'll have to go elsewhere but some won't be able to."
Lloyds Bank said that 78 percent of their customers "already use other ways of banking", such as over the phone or internet banking, as well as other branches. Transactions at the Beeston branch fell by more than 51 percent between 2017 and 2022.
The company suggested customers use the nearby post office, in High Road, for their face-to-face banking needs. Alternatively, people can visit their branch in Long Eaton.
A Beeston grandmother, who did not want to be named, said she thought future generations would not know what a bank is. "I don't think kids in 10 or maybe less years will even know what a bank is," she said.
"It is about that local connection too, sometimes you need help or to see a friendly face. It is a big thing for older people - I can't even turn on a computer, I don't know how to use online banking."
Towards the end of 2022 Which? suggested that banks and building societies have closed, or have scheduled to close, a total of 5,355 branches since January 2015. This amounts to 54 branches each month.
A spokesperson for Lloyds Bank said: “Visits to our Beeston branch have fallen over recent years, as many customers now choose to bank in different ways. When the branch closes in May, customers can continue to bank in person with us at Long Eaton branch or the local Post Office on High Road.”
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