Shropshire Star

Appeal to keep town's only bank open

An appeal was today made to HSBC for a stay of execution over the closure of a Llanfyllin's only bank.

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Llanfyllin Town Council wants the banking giant to postpone closure for a couple of months, in an effort to get more people to use it.

The town would be left with no bank if HSBC closes its doors in February.

At a town council meeting, councillors said they were "shocked" and "disappointed". Clerk Jonathan Bellingham said the council would do whatever it could to fight the closure.

"It might be we could persuade HSBC to open two or three days a week."

"We are writing to the regional director calling for a meeting to discuss the closure. Councillors will also be appealing to the HSBC to postpone closure for perhaps two months during which time it would urge more people to use the bank."

He said that as well as the bank closing HSBC had also announced that its cash point would disappear, causing extra problems for people in the town.

HSBC has said it will close its branches in Llanfyllin and Llanfair Caereinion, a move which comes just weeks after the banking giant announced it will also close locations in Whitchurch and Market Drayton.

It said it has made the decision to close the two Mid Wales branches because they have become financially unviable with more and more people using internet banking. Staff will be transferred to other branches.

The bank says it will improve internet and mobile facilities to help its customers.

In April this year HSBC in Church Stretton closed. Ellesmere and Craven Arms have also lost their branches in recent years.

A campaign by the Ellesmere community to keep the bank open was unsuccessful.

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