'It's a betrayal' ... Lloyds to axe rural banking vans lifeline

LLOYDS Bank has been accused of "betraying" customers and punishing the elderly after revealing plans to scrap its fleet of mobile branches that provide a financial lifeline to rural communities.

- David Pilditch

Angry users say they feel abandoned by the banking giant, which introduced the vans after closing down hundreds of high street sites.

The service visited 170 villages and towns every fortnight, helping 6,500 customers in England, Wales and Scotland.

But last week, the bank began calling customers, many of whom are elderly and do not use the internet, to inform them the vans are to be axed in May.

Vulnerable

Customer Richard Moore, 77, said he relied on the service to manage his money after his local branch closed four years ago.