Yahoo News Lloyds takes another chop at UK branch network
Lloyds Banking Group is taking the axe to its UK branch network again by announcing 49 further closures, with 305 staff losing their jobs.
The lender has announced several waves of closures since its post-bailout return to private hands.
While it is cutting more than 1,200 roles in total, Lloyds said it will also create 925 jobs elsewhere to limit the impact on staff.
Like its major competitors, which have all cut branch numbers in recent years, Lloyds cited growth in digital banking for the closures.
The company said they would take effect between July and October.
:: Lloyds profits hit record £5.3bn in 'landmark year'
It announced last year that almost 150 were to shut across its brands - the latest cuts being made in November .
Its statement said: "Lloyds Banking Group is today announcing 305 role reductions, mainly across our branch network, in addition to some other central functions.
"The changes in roles are in line with our plan to adapt to and meet the changing needs of our customers and as a result we also today announcing the creation of 925 new roles.
"These new roles form part of the £3bn commitment we have made over the course of our next strategic plan to focus strongly on technology and people, equipping teams with the specific skills to advise and support our customers.
"To put this into context, we are planning our largest ever investment in our people by increasing training hours to 4.4 million hours per year.
"The group's policy is always to use natural turnover and to redeploy people wherever possible to retain their expertise and knowledge within the group."
Lloyds said it would continue to consult the Accord and Unite unions on its plans.
The Lloyds branches earmarked for closure are:
Alford, Lincolnshire
Bishops Cleeve, Cotswolds
Bovey Tracey, South Devon
Bridgend Industrial Estate, South Wales
Brierley Hill, West Midlands
Brightlingsea, Essex
Butler Place, West End
Chatteris, The Fens
Clare, Essex
Cockermouth, North Lancashire & Cumbria
Colchester University Of Essex, Essex
Coningsby, Lincolnshire
Cricklade, Cotswolds
Croydon George Street, South East London
Dawlish, South Devon
East Wittering, Surrey & South Downs
Frinton-on-Sea, Essex
Hassocks, Sussex
Hednesford, South Staffordshire
Henley-in-Arden, Cotswolds
Hull Derringham, North & East Yorkshire
Keswick, North Lancashire & Cumbria
Lakenheath, The Fens
Ledbury, East Wales & Borders
Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire
Midhurst, Solent
Ottery St Mary, Somerset & Devon
Plymouth Southway, South Devon
Royton, Central Lancashire
Rye, Kent
Selsey, Surrey and South Downs
Soham, The Fens
St Leonards-on-Sea Silverhill, Kent
Stalybridge, Manchester
Stevenage High Street, Hertfordshire
Teddington, South West London
Upton-upon-Severn, Severn
Watton, East Anglia
Wealdstone, North West London
West Ealing, West London
Wingham, Kent
The eight Halifax branches earmarked for closure are:
Chester St Werburgh
Harold Hill
Knightsbridge
Portswood
Preston Orchard Street
Sowerby Bridge
Walsall Park Street
York Davygate
