The Lloyds Bank in Market Drayton is closing there town branch. We chat to customers about how they feel and what it means to them.
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00:00So we're just asking people today, the bank's going to be closing in late November, what's your thoughts to that?
00:05Well I think it's a shame, a shame for everybody from the town, especially old people, you know, can't go to bigger towns, so yeah.
00:15And the banking hooks that are apparently going to be coming to the town then and places like that, are you going to be using those?
00:20No, I don't think so, no.
00:22Will you be making the switch to digital banking? Do you already use it?
00:25No, I already use it, yeah, but I still, you know, if I've got cheques to pay for them, I still use digital banking.
00:31What is it you like about going into branches and interacting with people?
00:35Oh, I like interacting with people, although I use it probably less now I'm doing online banking than I used to in the past,
00:41but it's nice, especially for older people, I think it's nice to be able to see someone, I mean some people don't see anybody all day long, do they?
00:49Do you think it could have a negative impact for people banking in the local area?
00:54Probably, I should think, because they're all closing, aren't they? Not just the banks, the shops, everything.
00:59Everything's going online.
01:00Yes.
01:01Thanks very much for your time, Helen, really appreciate that.
01:05So Guy, news coming out that this Lloyds branch is going to be closing in late November, what's your reaction to this?
01:10Very disappointed. It's very important to keep a place like this open, I think, in a town like Market Drayton.
01:18Why do you think that is?
01:20Well, for a start, people use it all the time. Cash hasn't gone yet, that's the important thing.
01:25I've come to get some cash now, and cash hasn't gone out of fashion.
01:30Do you think you're going to face problems then in the future when the branch is gone,
01:33with obviously having to drop into certain places at certain times to get that?
01:37Absolutely, yes, definitely.
01:39And will you have as much access as you do now, do you think, to those future services?
01:43No, I mean they promise a banking hub, don't they, but where's that going to be?
01:48And if there's going to be a banking hub, that means there's a demand.
01:50If there's a demand, why not keep the bank branch open in the first place?
01:54Yeah, do you think that's a problem, that people won't know where the banking hub is and how to access it?
01:58Absolutely, yes, definitely.
02:00And for the future of banking, there must be a real concern for you people using it,
02:06of the future of banks, especially as it's all going digital.
02:08Yes, well I certainly use digital. I go online all the time and I use an app, that's fine,
02:13but there's times when you need to actually prove to yourself, to the bank,
02:17that you want to pay in some money. That is important.
02:20You can't just do it virtually, you've got to physically turn up somewhere.
02:24Do you think they're a critical part of high street life then?
02:26Oh, it's essential, it's got to be.
02:28And that's why people want banking hubs, because they recognise that.
02:32Thank you very much, Guy, that was really kind.
02:35Okay, so what sort of quick queries do you have then?
02:39Well, Lloyds Bank's closing, what's your initial reaction to that?
02:43Sadness, because I don't like the way the world's going, but I have to adapt to it.
02:51I've already gone online, I do online banking. I'm struggling a bit with it, but it works.
03:00Would you think you'll struggle a bit more without going into a branch?
03:03I mean, what do you benefit from from going in?
03:05I mean, this morning I paid a check-in.
03:08Now, you can't do that online unless you have the app on your phone.
03:16I don't use my phone a lot, my phone's too old.
03:19So it's going to be a real struggle for you.
03:21I'm going to have to get a new phone, you know.
03:26It's a lock-on effect, isn't it?
03:28Yeah, and there's going to be banking hubs then instead.
03:31Do you think you'll be able to use them? Do you think you'll know where they are?
03:34I've no idea where they're going to be. Have you any idea?
03:37I don't think anyone knows.
03:40There are certain things you can do at the post office, I believe.
03:43But what, I don't know.
03:46But I thought I would jump before I was pushed.
03:49And I went online, oh, about six weeks ago.
03:54And I can make payments, which is good.
03:58I can see my account and all that sort of thing.
04:00But other things I come into the branch for, like paying checks in,
04:05I'm going to have to learn about that.
04:08And probably get a new phone.
04:10So do you think it'll be a big miss to the town centre?
04:13I do, yeah.
04:16It's just a move further and further away from dealing with human beings, you know.
04:24It's a bit like the self-service checkouts and stuff like that.
04:29I like dealing with people.
04:30Yeah.
04:32And I think life is less rich without dealing with people, you know.
04:39Very well said.
04:39So I will miss them.
04:41Very well said. Thank you, Peter. Really appreciate it.