The five North East Lloyds and Halifax branches set to close

Lloyds and Halifax have announced plans to shut branches in South Shields, Wallsend, Redcar, Gateshead and Durham later this year, citing the continued shift towards online, mobile and telephone banking.

The latest announcements come amid a nationwide retreat from the high street. Hundreds of UK bank branches have been earmarked for closure as banks respond to changing customer habits.

Halifax has announced three further closures across the North East.

Halifax’s Durham branch at 1 North Road is also set to close on September 29, with customers directed to the nearby Lloyds Durham branch when it closes.

The brand’s Redcar branch at 8 High Street will close on November 2, with the nearest branch in Middlesbrough.

The Gateshead branch on Jackson Street, will shut on October 19. Customers will instead be able to use Lloyds Gateshead.

Lloyds will close its South Shields branch at 101 King Street on October 12, with customers directed to the North Shields branch.

Lloyds is also closing its Wallsend branch at Royal Chambers, High Street East, on November 3. The nearest alternative branch will be in Newcastle.

All banks said: “We regularly review how our customers choose to bank with us. And, with most now using our app, online services or phone banking, we’re closing these branches.”