John understands the disappointment amongst his constituents, that the Halifax on Maldon High Street is is due to close. He knows that bank branches are vital for many people, and shares the concerns regarding the impact that closures of branches could have, particularly in rural areas such as ours. It is the case that decisions on the opening or closing of individual bank branches are taken by each bank on a commercial basis, without intervention from the Government.
John has spoken with colleagues about how we can best protect over-the-counter services. Lloyds Banking Group have assured him that customers will be able to use the Post Office nearby to manage many of their day-to-day banking needs. The Government is overseeing an agreement between Post Offices and Banks to ensure that users can withdraw cash, deposit cash and cheques, and make balance enquiries at a Post Office counter, across 11,500 branches in the UK.
John has also been assured that there is an arrangement for a Community Banker to visit the area, who can offer support and guidance on the ways that customers can bank with Halifax.
