A bank in Shepton Mallet is set to close its doors for the last time in the summer.

Lloyds TSB has confirmed that 36 of its banks are scheduled to close due to changing customer habits, with some now serving fewer than 250 customers a week. The company's branch in Shepton Mallet is set to close its doors as part of the changes, with the closure is due to take place on July 31st, 2023.

The closure will mean that the nearest open Lloyds Bank will be in either Wells or Street.

Announcing the closures, the bank said the number of people visiting physical branches has fallen since 2017 with a 45 per cent drop in people coming in to carry out transactions between 2017 and 2022, and cash point usage down by up to 54 per cent.

The bank's research says it has just 178 regular customers through its doors over the last 12 months.

Almost half of the people using the bank for their personal account (49%) are aged between 55 and 74,

A spokesperson for Lloyds Bank said: "Like many other high street businesses, we've seen people using our branches less frequently in recent years as more customers choose to do most of their everyday banking online.

"We have to make sure our branches are where customers need and use them most. As a result, we've made the difficult decision to close this branch because customers are using it less often. In addition the majority of customers are also using alternative ways to bank.

"Customers affected by the closure can use any of our branches and our nearest alternative is the Wells branch. They can also use a Post Office® for your everyday banking. And for a period of time after the branch closes, we plan to have a Community Banker visit this area. They can offer support and guidance on the ways you can continue to bank with Lloyds, even after the branch is closed."

Consumer guide Which? suggests banks and building societies have closed, or have scheduled to close, a total of 5,355 branches since January 2015. This works out at around 54 branches each month - and there are more coming this year.