Along with local residents, business owners are deeply worried about the closure of the Lloyds Bank branch in Bridgnorth. This ruling has caused considerable fear within the community. The closure overall is symptomatic of a broader trend affecting the West Midlands. To many, it represents a crushing blow to the small town’s economy and, as the home to a large number of retirees, its growing senior population.
Helen Upton, a regular user of the Bridgnorth branch for many years, said she was horrified by the news. She stated that the closure represents “another nail in the coffin for the town really because we’ve had so many closures just lately.” Upton focused on the impact on Main Street businesses, stating that loss of banking services would drive new customers away.
Stuart Anderson, the Conservative MP for South Shropshire highlighted how much worse these closures hit their older constituents. He emphasized that millions of seniors, especially those living in rural communities, are unable to transition to online banking methods. “Older people are being disproportionately affected by the closures,” he remarked. Anderson’s suggestion to set up mobile banking hubs in rural towns, permitting residents to board on certain days to conduct business.
Long time local resident, Michael Paulley, who’s banked with the Bridgnorth branch for nearly 20 years, was on the same page with these sentiments. He called the branch’s impending closure a “community disaster for local residents.” Paulley moved beyond social media to real action, writing first to Lloyds and then to the Treasury to demand an end to this injustice.
Doreen Riley, a 77-year-old resident told The New York Times of her inability to adapt to online banking. She stated, “I’ve always used this bank and everybody in Bridgnorth that was born here are disgusted really.” The branch’s permanent closure has turned the trip to the bank into a long odyssey for her. Now she just hopes to figure out other ways to help pay for her retirement. Diane Edwards, another local resident, expressed her frustration, saying, “There’s millions of us, not just me that feel strong about this. It affects everybody.”
Since September, 67 bank branches have shuttered their doors on high streets throughout the West Midlands. The Lloyds Bank spokesperson explained that declining foot traffic at the Bridgnorth branch contributed to its closure: “As many customers now choose to bank through their app or online, visits to our Bridgnorth and Ludlow branches have fallen over recent years.”
