Town’s last bank to close in 2021

The last bank branch in Long Sutton is set to close for good next year.

The news comes after TSB customers were relieved in December when the bank said it was staying.

But the branch has not escaped the latest round of cuts and is one of 164 branches to shut permanently.

It means Long Sutton is left without a bank – where once it had several. Barclays closed in 2018 and the Natwest in December 2015.

“It’s going to leave a huge hole in the town and it’s very sad that it is closing,” said John Clarey, chairman of the town council. “We use the bank and I’m never the only one in there. There are always several people and it appears to be well used.

“It got a lot of business when Barclays closed because it was the last branch in town. Now it’s closing as well and it’s the older people I feel sorry for because not everyone uses online banking,” he added.

The TSB is closing a total of 164 branches as part of a major review of its business.

“Closing any of our branches is never an easy decision, but our customers are banking differently with a marked shift to digital banking,” said Debbie Crosbie, TSB chief executive.

The company is hoping most of the 969 roles lost will come from voluntary redundancy. It is also adding 100 mobile advisors to produce additional support where branches are closing.

By the end of next year it will have 290 branches – at the end of September this year it had 475.