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Stone was once home to several banks – but this month the final branch in town closed its doors for good. The historic coaching stop, market and brewery town attracted customers from miles around to do their banking alongside their shopping and other errands – and in recent years it provided branches for visitors that had lost facilities in their own areas, such as Eccleshall.
During the past decade, which has seen the rise of online banking, Stone has seen Barclays, HSBC and Natwest shut their branches however. And last week the last remaining bank in town – Lloyds – followed suit. The closure of the branch was first announced last year.
A Lloyds Bank spokesman said: “As many customers now choose to bank through their mobile app or online, visits to our Stone branch have fallen over recent years.
“Customers can use the local Post Office for everyday banking which is a short walk away and access cash at the nearby free-to-use cash machines. Customers can also manage their money online, by calling us, or at the new banking hub.”
The town’s banking hub, provided by Cash Access UK, was opened following the announcement of the planned Lloyds branch closure and is currently based at the Frank Jordan Centre in Lichfield Road. It enables customers to continue accessing counter services, such as depositing cash and cheques, paying utility bills or withdrawing funds.
The hub is open on weekdays between 9am and 5pm, with community bankers on hand for customers to speak to in a private space if they need assistance with matters such as payments, transfers or managing their account.
On Monday Natwest are in attendance, followed by HSBC on Tuesday, Santander on Wednesday and Barclays on Friday, and from this month a Lloyds community banker will be available on Thursdays. Shoppers, traders and community leaders alike have described the Lloyds closure as a sad moment for the town.
Customer Lol Barnes said: “It’s all very well having a hub but they can’t necessarily do the things you can do in a proper bank. When I first moved here we had two banks, but now everyone has to use the Post Office for everything. It’s going to make life more difficult.”
Stone shopper Bel Crawford said: “I used to bank with Natwest in Stone, but now I have to go to Stafford if I need to see anybody. I don’t think people go into banks so often, but older people in particular like to have face to face contact.
“I think it’s very sad for Stone to lose its banks. I don’t think anybody would be happy about it losing its last bank and Stone will have lost footfall for other businesses.”
Town traders, particularly those who rely more on cash payments than card transactions, are also also set to be affected by the closure. And they have raised concerns for visiting market sellers and food vendors who attend the town for monthly and special events.
Gaynor Grocott from The Secret Tea Room said: “It’s been hanging over us quite a long time now and we knew it was inevitable. The shops that take cash only and market traders will suffer.
“We used to be to run up to the bank if we needed change. Now you have to think ahead about what change you need and go into Newcastle or Hanley on your day off.”
Nick Griffin from butchery Griffins of Stone said: “It will affect me because I bank at Lloyds and it will affect trade and footfall in Stone. I think it’s something we are going to really struggle with.
“We have started taking card payments at farmers’ markets but that comes with a cost. You pay per transaction.
“If we’re not careful it will all be phones and tablets and people won’t know how to talk to one another. Pound notes will be gone and we will lose the value of money.”
Councillor Jill Hood, who is also chair of Age Concern Stone and District, highlighted the importance of face to face banking for older residents. “We don’t all bank online”, she said.
“The other thing is people get to know the staff at the bank – they go in there for a friendly smile and a chat. Some of these people don’t have human contact for days and days and it is a vital service.
“The hub bankers are wonderful, they’re so friendly and they will advise people. But I’m bitterly disappointed that Lloyds is now closing, the staff have given such good service over the years.
“Being able to take a small child into the bank to open their first account is the most wonderful experience. They will lose that now.
“Having a bank in the High Street meant people coming into town to spend money and we are going to lose those people. Stone needs those people and we benefited from people coming from Eccleshall to use the bank.”
Stone’s new MP Sir Gavin Williamson previously voiced opposition to the proposed closure of the town’s Lloyds Bank branch last year when it was first announced. At the time he said he would be will be meeting with representatives from the bank to discuss ways to maintain an in-person service.
Speaking this week he said: “Like many residents in Stone, I’m disappointed about the closure of Lloyds’ face-to-face branch, especially as it’s the last remaining bank in the town. There is growing concern about the effect the loss of personal banking services will have on the elderly and vulnerable members of our community.
“Since learning of the closure, I have been actively campaigning to restore some form of in-person banking, ensuring access to cash on the High Street remains protected. I’m pleased that these efforts led to the establishment of the Stone Banking Hub earlier this year, which now offers a range of banking services and professional support to our community.
“Going forward I want to see the Banking Hub take a central location on the High Street and am meeting with the relevant people to make that happen.”
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