Lloyds Bank has explained why it is shutting two more branches in Cornwall in the coming months.

As reported by the Packet earlier today, Helston's branch of Lloyds, at Market Place, is due to shut on January 24 next year.

On Wednesday it was also announced that the Redruth branch would similarly be closing, on October 26 this year.

Now Lloyds Bank has told the Packet the reason for the impending closures.

A spokesperson said: “Visits to our Helston and Redruth branches have fallen over recent years, as many customers now choose to bank in different ways.

"When the branches close, customers can continue to bank with us at the Post Office and can access cash at a number of free ATMs nearby.”

The opening hours of the Helston branch have reduced in recent years, with the bank now only open 9am to 3pm, Monday to Friday.

Its closure means there will be no banks at all in Helston and will also result in the loss of the last free cashpoint in the town centre, the nearest then being Spar at the top of Meneage Street, which charges a fee, or alternatively Tesco and Sainsbury's supermarkets.

Lloyds said that all branch closures are now subject to an independent industry assessment by LINK.

Helston's branch is currently going through this assessment, while it has been completed for the Redruth branch and no additional services have been recommended for the town.

Some details about each of the bank closures have also been given by Lloyds, which said that 77% of Helston's personal banking customers already used other ways of banking, such as over the phone or internet banking, as well as other branches.

It said branch transactions at the Helston branch fell more than 57% between 2017 and 2022.

Going forward, it said Helston Post Office, down the road in Coinagehall Street, offered personal and business customers everyday banking services, access to cash and paying in of cheques among its services.

With regards to the Redruth branch, 72% of its personal banking customers were said to already use other ways of banking, and branch transactions had fallen by more than 62% between 2017 and 2022.

Similarly, customers could use the post office in Fore Street, and Lloyds said the nearest free to use ATM was 0.03 miles away from the branch, with 21 free-to-use ATMs within three miles of the closing branch.