THE MP for North Cornwall is calling for banking hubs to be provided for residents in the area after a swathe of bank closures.

Ben Maguire has taken a stand in Parliament in an effort to bring bank hubs to North Cornwall in order to give residents easy access to their money.

In January it was announced that Lloyds banking group would be closing some 189 branch closures across the country. Among branches set to close their doors were two of Launceston’s highstreet banks, Lloyds, currently based on Broad Street, and Halifax on Southgate Street.

Launceston’s branch of Lloyds has been scheduled for closure on May 12 this year, while Halifax’s Southgate Street branch will remain open until June 3.

In a statement about branch closures, the banks explained: “Before we close any branch, we look at how our customers are managing their money and using the branch. Most customers are now using our Mobile Banking app, Online Banking or calling us instead, which means they are using branches much less.

“Because of this, we'll be closing our Launceston branch.”

While customers are still able to do much of their in person banking through the Post Office, many residents have expressed concern at the lack of support for older generations.

However, now the region’s MP is calling for mobile banking hubs be provided to rural areas of North Cornwall, so that people will always have easy, accessible banking services nearby.

Speaking he said: “I am delighted to see that Bodmin, in my constituency recently got a banking hub but other towns over eight miles away and a £20 taxi ride away, like Wadebridge, don’t have a banking hub. Would the honourable member agree with me that we could think about a mobile banking hub that goes out to rural areas?”