ONE of Dursley's banks is set to close later this year, due to fewer people using the branch.

Lloyds has announced that it will cease trading at its Long Street branch on July 21.

Lloyds claims it made the difficult decision because customers were using it less often and the majority were now using alternative ways to bank.

It stated in a review that the counters at the Dursley branch had been 13 per cent quieter than a year ago with personal use down 14 per cent and business use down 11 per cent.

It was also found that cashpoint machine transactions had gone up by 9 per cent.

In a statement, the bank said: “This is in response to changing customer behaviours and the reduced number of transactions being made in branches.

"You can continue to use any other Lloyds Bank branch and the nearest alternative is the Wotton-under-Edge branch.

"There will also be a new mobile branch service visiting the Dursley area.

"You can also use your local Post Office for many everyday banking transactions."

The closure in Dursley is part of Lloyds plans to shut 56 of it local branches across the UK.

The company said 31 Lloyds, 10 Halifax and 15 Bank of Scotland branches will be shut across the UK as fewer customer choose to bank in stores.

The move is expected to mean staff numbers will be cut by “under 80” as many employees are to be redeployed in other branches.

Dursley mayor, Cllr Neil Grecian said: "I am sorry and disappointed that Lloyds Bank have decided to close their branch in Dursley. They have been part of the town centre for many years and their leaving will make it difficult for small businesses to bank money conveniently."

Following the closure, the town will still have one bank, the TSB, plus a branch of the Coventry Building Society.