We should call time on Lloyds – say Penzance campaigners  

As the Bank plans to turn its back on town this week after 100 years  

Local campaigners are encouraging their fellow Lloyds Bank customers to treat the bank just as it is treating the town of Penzance, in the week the bank is turning its back on the town and leaving the iconic Market House in the centre of the town for good. The branch will close for the last time on Wednesday, 21st January.  

The Penzance-based Lloyds campaign group – which has collected thousands of supporters for its petition and hundreds of letters from customers warning Lloyds Bank they would take their custom elsewhere – says it realised top bank executives had already made their decision and that they have not rescinded any previous decision to close the branch. The campaigners said, “It is better to have fought and lost than to have never fought at all.”  

Local MP, Andrew George, who has led the campaign to Parliament and who has challenged senior executives of Lloyds regarding its plans, including at their London Headquarters, said, “We were entirely unconvinced by Lloyds’ assurances they would ensure their vulnerable customers were properly considered and cared for after the branch closes on Wednesday. The bank seems more interested in lining the pockets of their top execs than in supporting their customers.  

“Lloyds is fobbing Penzance off with a proposed ‘community banker’, who will visit the town once a fortnight. During the 2008 crisis, the Bank was bailed out with £37 billion of taxpayers’ money, but feels it can turn just turn their back on towns like Penzance when it suits them. The impact on the vulnerable, businesses, and charities with complex transactions, and the digitally excluded, will be very significant.  

“Of course, we’re realistic. We always said this is a commercial decision, and that the odds are stacked against us. But Penzance isn’t the kind of place to take something like this lying down. The level of local support has been incredible. There’s been no proper impact assessment.”  

Sue Calvert, owner of Cornwall’s oldest family-run business, Alfred Smith & Son (Penzance) Ltd, said “With only 71% of their 33,000 customers in the Penzance Branch using Internet Banking and with a further two years left on their lease it does appear Lloyds do not care for their West Cornwall customers – it’s a very sad day for our community.”.