A mobile banking service which visits towns in Suffolk fortnightly is to be axed sparking increased fears of increasing social isolation for people who rely on it.

Lloyds will no longer be running banking services along the Beccles route, which includes Bungay, Halesworth and Southwold, in May 2024.

Bungay will no longer have the van at Wharton Street Car Park from Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Both the Southwold and Halesworth mobile services on the high streets will end on Friday, May 24 - an end that will hit Southwold residents especially hard following the recent closure of Barclays, which has left the town without any banking facilities. 

The mobile service visits these towns once a fortnight.

Statistics released by the service show that 51 per cent of the customers using it are aged 75 and over, with over 80 per cent of those using the service for personal banking. 

This is the second mobile service to close in Suffolk this week, with the Lloyds banking van that visits Mildenhall also set for closure next year.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Councillor David Beavan has spoken of the issues of isolation surrounding the closure of banks and shopsCouncillor David Beavan has spoken of the issues of isolation surrounding the closure of banks and shops (Image: SARAH LUCY BROWN)

David Beavan, councillor for the ESC ward, said that he was resigned to the decision to lose banks from the high street.

"The writing is on the wall.

"We have looked at options to get a banking hub but Southwold does not qualify as there is a Post Office where people can access cash.

"Sometimes, going to the bank is someone's only human contact for the day.

"People of all ages are experiencing social isolation and the loss of the high street is making the problem worse."

The statement from Lloyds Bank read: "Before we make any changes to our services, we always look to understand the impact on our customers and the local community.

"This includes how customers can continue to access banking services.

"For some locations, a Community Banker will visit once the Mobile Branch service ends."

It is not yet clear which areas will benefit from the community banker.