BANK of Scotland chiefs are rolling out a major change across all its branches.
Banking hubs across Scotland are disappearing from the high street as the industry continues to shift its focus to online and digital platforms.
Bank of Scotland chiefs are rolling out a major change across all its branches[/caption]
Now Lloyds Banking Group has revealed its customers will soon be able to access services across all subsidaries, including Bank of Scotland, Halifax and Lloyds.
This means customers visiting branches will be able to access the same services in all hubs.
The banking giant says the move will provide customers with “access to the UK’s biggest combined branch network”.
The facilities include in-person banking, apps, mobile messaging and telephone services.
But unions argue the cross-brand branch access strategy is primarily motivated by cost-cutting and streamlining operations, rather than improving customer experience.
A Lloyds Banking Group spokesperson said: “We’re always looking for ways to make banking easier and more flexible for our customers.
“From later this year, we’ll offer customers of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland the option to use branches of any brand for their in-person banking, alongside our apps, mobile messaging, and telephone services.”
This year, Bank of Scotland is to axe 15 branches before the end of June.
The number of physical bank branches has slowly dropped over the last 40 years
Over the same period, the number of building society branches in operation fell from 6,954 to 1,925.
Last year, the Royal Bank of Scotland announced it would be closing down one in five of their banks.
Bank chiefs say staff are reaching out to customers who are set to struggle with the loss of a physical bank branch – such as the elderly and those in rural communities.
Bosses have also promised that no other reviews into branch closures will be made until 2026.
