Labour’s Candidate for York Outer, Luke Charters, has expressed his concern that York Outer is on course to have no bank branches left within a year.

Across the whole of York, four bank branches have closed since 2020. This figure includes Lloyds bank branch in Acomb, which closed in 2021, and the Acomb Halifax bank branch, which is scheduled to close in January 2025.

This is symptomatic of the national picture with 6,005 branches across the UK closing since January 2025. Luke Charters expressed his concern at the bank closures in York Outer today.

Luke’s Statement:

“The bank closures in York Outer are a clear example of 14 years of managed decline under the Conservative government. It is unacceptable that residents in York Outer don’t have easy access to a bank. With the current cost-of-living crisis, I believe it is particularly important that all residents should have the ability to easily access local financial advice and support. Bank closures make it significantly more difficult to achieve this.

“At the Financial Conduct Authority, I previously led work with UK banks on branch closures, and it’s clear that with the right leadership, branch provision can be maintained.

“A Labour Government would accelerate the rollout of 350 ‘banking hubs’ where people can deposit and take out cash as well as access wider banking services.

“If elected as our MP, I will be campaigning to bring a banking hub branch to York Outer, reversing the recent decline, so that we are no longer a constituency without a bank.”