The closure of 56 branches of Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland across the UK was originally set to take place over the six months from April to October 2020, but was suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Unite, a recognised trade union in the banking group, said they will now be “raced through from March 2021 a LBG plays catch-up on the closure plans”, a decision it called “unjustified and damaging”.

Rob MacGregor, Unite national officer, said: “Unite has opposed these bank branch closures at every step. The decision to go ahead and close 56 branches is unjustified and damaging. This devastating news comes just two weeks after the bank announced the loss of over 1,000 jobs from across LBG.

“The pandemic has highlighted the vital role our local bank branches play in providing an essential service to the community. These closures don’t just cut a vital service from communities but also force customers to travel further to stand in larger crowds of customers queuing outside busier branches.

“Unite is opposed to these latest cuts and will continue to resist job losses and branch closures. The union has urged the bank to halt the branch closure programme and instead assess the impacts of any proposed closures on members, customers, and the local economic activity.

“Across the country, trade unions, MPs and community groups have expressed their concerns to the banking sector about the negative impact their actions are having on local economies and the wider society. Once again the voice of customers and staff appear to be ignored in the rush to make short term savings.”