Sir Edward Leigh, the Conservative Member of Parliament for the Gainsborough constituency, has formally objected to Lloyds Banking Group’s decision to stop allowing customers to pay cheques into their accounts via banking hubs.

In a letter to the Group’s chief executive, the MP highlighted the significant role played by the Market Rasen Banking Hub, which serves the town and its wide rural catchment. Many local residents and businesses, Sir Edward said, rely on the hub for essential banking services, including cheque deposits.

The MP expressed particular concern for elderly and vulnerable constituents, many of whom remain dependent on cheques for everyday financial transactions. He has asked Lloyds Banking Group to set out what assessment it has made of the impact the withdrawal of this service will have on these groups.

The MP also noted reports that banking hub operators had proposed mitigating measures such as providing self-addressed envelopes for cheque deposits but that Lloyds Banking Group had declined to adopt this option.

Emphasising the importance of community banking in rural areas following widespread branch closures, Sir Edward stressed that Lloyds is the only major banking group withdrawing cheque deposit services from hubs, a move he believes will cause unnecessary difficulty for local people.

He has urged Lloyds Banking Group to reverse the decision and work constructively with banking hub operators to ensure continued provision of accessible services for all customers.