THE decision to remove a banking service in three Cotswold villages has been described as the "thin end of the wedge" for rural services.

It was revealed that Bourton-on-the-Water, Bishop's Cleeve, and Broadway would no longer have their Lloyds mobile branch after the bank decided to close the Moreton-in-Marsh route.

The decision came after the bank revealed that fewer customers were using mobile banking.

However, Paul Hodgkinson, county councillor for Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach, said this could have significant consequences for residents, especially those who are older.

Paul Hodgkinson, county councillor for Bourton-on-the-Water and Northleach, said: "I've already had residents in touch with me about this, and it will impact those who are older and rely on face-to-face contact.

"Back in 2017, Lloyds Bank closed its doors in the centre of Bourton, and we were told that the mobile bank service would replace it. Now, six years later, even that is being axed.

"This is the thin end of the wedge for rural services.

"Lloyds made a massive £5.3bn in profit in the first nine months of this year – they can easily afford to keep this service going but are choosing not to."

A detailed report on how people use the mobile bank found that only 13 customers used the branch regularly across six months. 

It revealed that 76% of customers who use the route have also used Lloyds Bank branches, Internet Banking or PhoneBank, and 50% of customers also use their local Post Office.

Within the three villages, a total of 530 transactions were done by personal customers from August 2022 to July 2023.

A spokesperson for Lloyds Bank said: "We have been looking at how customers are using our Mobile Branches.

"Many are using them less and choosing other ways to bank instead.

"Because of this, we have made the decision to end this service.

"This includes all the stops on this route."

All three villages will need to bank through their post office instead of through a bank branch unless they wish to travel to Evesham, Stow-on-the-Wold, or Cheltenham.

Lloyds will no longer be offering the service from May 31, 2024.

When is the last day Lloyds will be doing its Moreton-in-Marsh route?

Bourton-on-the-Water - May 20, 2024

Bishop's Cleeve - May 21, 2024

Broadway - May 22, 2024