BANK customers are angry at a bank’s decision to close its Thorpe Bay branch.

Lloyds has announced it will shut its Thorpe Bay Broadway branch in April, forcing customers to travel to in Southend High Street where the next nearest branch is.

The news was only confirmed on Friday – via notices put up in the Thorpe Bay branch.

Some customers are so angry they are considering closing their accounts and moving to a rival bank.

One of them, Derek Matthews, of Weare Gifford, Shoebury, said: “It’s another example of the culture that has been developing in our society over the past 40 years or so.

“Everything is based upon money and greed, without any concern for the implications such decisions will have on employees or ordinary people.

“I imagine the staff are devastated.

“I have banked with Lloyds for more than 50 years and have used the Thorpe Bay branch for 40 of them. Needless to say, I’ll be moving my account.”

Echo:

NOTICE - How customers were informed of their branch's closure

The move will also affect small, independent traders businesses in the Broadway, many of whom bank at Lloyds.

Both Barclays and NatWest still have branches in the Broadway, but Barclays recently cut the number of cashiers at its branch from seven to two.

David Wilson, who runs two dry-cleaning businesses, Brummels and Olympia in the Broadway said he had banked with Lloyds for many years, but was also thinking of moving his business elsewhere.

He said: “I rely on the bank on a daily basis for change.

“With the drive to Southend, it would mean I’d have to make a weekly trip and estimate how much change I’d need for the week, but realistically, I won’t do that. I’ll have to change banks.

“Barclays has been downsized though and NatWest is run-down, so I wouldn’t be surprised if that closes soon, too.

“I don’t know what I’d do if all the banks were to close.”

A Lloyds Bank spokesman blamed the closure on “the changing behaviour of customers”.

He added: “We know they value the branch experience, but do so alongside our other channels such as digital and phone. We have made the difficult decision to close our Thorpe Bay branch because of changing customer behaviour and declining customer usage.

“We have also taken this decision because the lease on the branch is expiring.

“We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause, and have informed customers of the closest alternative branch, in Southend High Street.”