Lloyds Banking Group is considering the closure of several hundred Halifax agency counters, but denies claims that it has plans to shut high street branches.
Halifax includes 300 counters in estate agencies, solicitors’ practices and financial advisers’ offices. They offer limited services such as paying and withdrawal of money, and are operated under licence by a third party. Some 26 are already scheduled for closure in September and October.
Lloyds has denied claims that it has a plan – codenamed Project Tulip – to close 500 of Halifax’s high street branches. The bank is also rumoured to be selling two of its regional networks – Scotland’s 185 Lloyds TSB branches and 164 Cheltenham & Gloucester branches – as a response to a potential intervention by the European Commission on competition grounds.
31/08/09 Times 32, 34, 37
Daily Telegraph B1
Guardian 23
Independent 32
