Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed that from December 31, customers of Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland will no longer be able to cash cheques at Post Office branches. The move is part of the group's ongoing shift towards digital banking, with the majority of customers now using mobile apps for cheque deposits.
A spokesperson for Lloyds Banking Group stated that most customers already use the app to pay in cheques by taking a photo on their phone. They added that very few customers choose to deposit cheques at the Post Office. The group's mobile app automates the reading of cheque details and processes deposits directly into accounts.
This change follows the announcement of 135 branch closures from May 2024 to March 2026, including 60 Halifax, 61 Lloyds Bank, and 14 Bank of Scotland branches. These closures add to 102 already planned for 2025. The group cited a decline in face-to-face transactions, with ten million fewer in-branch interactions in 2024 compared to the previous year.
Halifax has defended the closure of 24 branches, noting that most locations are within a mile of other banking services, such as Post Office branches. The lender guarantees alternative access points for affected customers, including telephone banking, community bankers, and other branches. Customers can also use over 11,000 Post Office branches or Banking Hubs for everyday banking.
Separately, Santander has announced it will discontinue its text alerts service from May 12, 2025. The service provided weekly balance updates and transaction alerts. Santander will continue to issue alerts for potential overdraft charges and advises customers to use online or mobile banking instead.
