Modernising The Few Remaining Bank Branches Is NOT Enough!

This is a post about innovation at one of the remaining Lloyds Bank branches in Birmingham.

And “the remaining” is the crux of the issue.

There has been no shortage of innovations - including in relation to cash and ATMs - the “Big Five” UK banks COULD have introduced when they had networks of branches properly covering the country and serving the British public.

BUT the banks didn’t want to make innovations at that stage.

They wanted to close branches, rip out ATMs and eventually impose “cashless” - so why would the banks have wanted branches and ATMs to be more useful to the British public?

Just one example is cash deposit/recycling ATMs.

For many years, EVERY ATM in Japan has accepted cash deposits and efficiently recycled the cash, allowing it to be withdrawn by customers.

Banks in many other countries have introduced this service.

Very few ATMs in the UK utilise this readily available technology.

Branch innovation at the few remaining Big Five bank branches in the UK, whilst welcome, has limited value.

What the British public need to see is a minimum of 1200 Banking Hubs - covering every UK community with 5000 or more residents - fully fitted with all the latest 24/7 cash deposit, recycling and withdrawal equipment AND offering genuine face-to-face banking advice services.

That’s what we will be telling Richard Lloyd and his “Access to Banking Services Review”. We know the current HM Treasury team don’t want to hear this obvious truth - but they will be gone even before Richard submits his report.

However, the new Prime Minister will be VERY interested in what Richard has to say..

AND - OF COURSE - THE PAYMENT CHOICE ALLIANCE WILL STILL BE HERE, READY TO TALK TO ANDY BURNHAM, WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD LISTENER.

Source: lloydsbankinggroup.com/media/press-releases/2026/lloyds/new-look-lloyds-branch-birmingham-1-million-investment.html