Rumours have been circulating for some time about the impending closure of Lloyds Bank in the High Street. Only now comes official confirmation from Jane Grubb, Lloyds bank manager of Rye and New Romney branches in a letter to customers.
Lloyds Bank services are still available locally at New Romney and Hastings, and customers are advised that they can withdraw cash and make deposits at any Post Office. In addition, "a mobile branch service will be visiting this area." Full details of the service, including routes and timetables will be available online. The final date for across-the-counter banking and also presumably for accessing the ATM in Lion Street is October 4.
This will be the third Rye High Street bank to close, starting with the loss of HSBC in January 2016 and then NatWest on June 21 this year. At least the pavement-blocking and congestion problems identified at "cashpoint corner" will be further ameliorated, but at the cost of much inconvenience for those who refuse or are unable to embrace online banking.
The building formerly housed the bank established in 1790 by the Curteis family in association with Messrs Woolet and Dawes of Rye. The business was acquired by Lloyds in 1893.
Photo: Kenneth Bird
