A campaign to save Hoylake’s last remaining bank, HSBC, is gathering momentum after the firm announced its decision to close by March next year

Dec 15 2010 by Matt Hurst, Heswall News

A campaign to save Hoylake’s last remaining bank, HSBC, is gathering momentum after the firm announced its decision to close by March next year

A CAMPAIGN is gathering momentum to fight a decision by the ‘world’s local bank’ to cut its ties to Hoylake, with residents and businesses labelling the move “devastating”.

No public consultation was carried out by the firm but HSBC will still close its Hoylake branch before next Spring - arguing the £150,000 spent in West Kirby justifies the withdrawal.

The decision leaves the bustling town with no financial institution, except the Post Office. Lorraine McKinley runs Market Street’s Marcus James and Co (UK Ltd) with her family.

She has banked with HSBC, on a personal and business level, for two years.

Lorraine told the News: “It will have a devastating impact on business because we no longer have a bank for people to go to.

“There’s the convenience and also the safety factor because we don’t have to walk far with cash, whereas now, to pay in takings, we’re going to be expected to travel to West Kirby.”

HSBC claims the decision to close, on March 18 next year, was made because customer usage has “fallen significantly over the past few years”.

Instead the firm opted to invest £150,000 in its West Kirby outlet, reasoning the two mile journey from Hoylake to its seaside neighbour makes it ‘local’ enough.

Jacqui Hall runs Hoylake’s charitable Melrose Hall, and says she pays money in two or three times a week.

An HSBC customer of 40 years, Jacqui said:

“I’ve given it a lot of business over the years.

“The shops will be devastated.

“People go there to get money from the bank and then come shopping, well now they’re going to go to West Kirby.”

Lorraine McKinley is urging the bank to reconsider its decision.

And on Monday night, Hoylake and Meols Cllr Gerry Ellis handed a 207 signature petition to full council demanding talks are opened with the bank.

Cllr Ellis said: “Whoever made this decision has just got a map out, they haven’t considered it from a practicality point of view and they haven't consulted anyone locally.”

But a spokesman for HSBC said: “Customer usage of this branch has fallen significantly over the past few years.

“There will be no redundancies as all branch staff will transfer to other local branches.

“Customers and residents will still have access to free cash withdrawals from the two existing ATMs in the town.”