LLOYDS Bank will close it’s branch in Crickhowell - leaving the town without a bank.

The bank, which also announced the closure of 10 other branches across Wales including Llandovery, confirmed plans last week citing "changing ways" customers do their banking for the reason behind the closure plans.

Lloyds announced in July that it planned to close 200 branches UK-wide by the end of next year.

The decision to close Crickhowell’s remaining bank comes just a year after the decision was made to close the town’s NatWest Branch.

Kirsty Williams, AM for Brecon and Radnorshire said that the decision was "beyond belief.

"For this to come so soon after the NatWest closure is beyond belief," said Ms Williams, "rural areas are being let down time and time again, and it is clear that Westminster needs to strengthen the banking code. It is immensely frustrating to be facing another closure."

Ms Williams also said that she was told in September by Lloyds that they "have no current plans to close branches in any of the areas" she specified.

"It is disappointing that this has already changed. I am in the process of arranging a meeting between myself, community representatives and Lloyds representatives to discuss the matter further."

The proposed closure is due to take place at the end of March next year, with a mobile service being launched to help users pay bills, deposit money and withdraw cash.

Chris Davies MP for Brecon and Radnorshire discussed the proposed closure with the South West Director of Lloyds Bank and raised his concerns. He focused on how businesses and local people will be affected by these changes, especially the elderly and business communities.

Mr Davies said: "It was great to speak with the director of Lloyds in this region on the subject of the future of Crickhowell bank. I expressed the local communities concerns and was reassured by the answers I received.

"This is a tough time for our rural community with many large companies re-structuring their business models."

Mr Davies added: "When the closure does eventually happen, I hope that the premises is kept in the hands of the local community and turned into a great local business."

Other branches set to close include Abertillery, Canton, Ponturddulais and Tregaron as well as Newport, Milford Haven. Fishguard and Mountain Ash.

Eluned Morgan, Labour AM for Mid and West-Wales said she was "very disappointed" to learn of Lloyds Bank’s intention to close 10 of its branches.

Ms Morgan said: "The same bank that was rescued by British taxpayers is now letting its loyal customers down. This decision goes to demonstrate the company’s small regard for the businesses and customers it is meant to serve.

"I will be making formal representations on this matter and seeking assurances that alternative provisions will be put in place to assist Lloyds customers ahead of branch closures which are scheduled for between March and April next year."

A spokesperson for Lloyds bank said the "difficult" decision to close the branch on March 28 next year had been made due to the people using "alternative branches" or other ways to bank such as online or via the telephone.

"We apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause, " said the spokesperson, "and have informed customers of the closest alternative branches."

The bank confirmed that they are investing in a new fleet of mobile branches to "help customers in more rural communities" as well as finding other ways to access banking locally.

The bank stated that around 90% of its personal customers already use other branches and that the Crickhowell branch "only has 25 regular weekly personal and business customers."

It said they will be "proactively" talking to customers about services offered in the local post office and that the only impact would be requiring customers to bank at Abergavenny.