Cornwall Woman Travels 94 Miles to Truro for Lloyds Cheque Deposit
A woman from Cornwall has highlighted the difficulties faced by rural communities in accessing banking services after being forced to travel 94 miles to deposit a cheque.
Annabel Yates, a resident of Crackington Haven, received a £900 cheque from HM Revenue and Customs. She found herself unable to deposit it digitally, as the cheque lacked perforated edges necessary for scanning via the bank's app. Her attempt to deposit the cheque at her local Post Office was rebuffed; Lloyds Banking Group, encompassing Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, ceased allowing cheque deposits through Post Office branches in January.
Yates ultimately travelled 150km (94 miles) to Truro to visit a physical Lloyds branch. She urged the bank to reconsider its policy, stating it "disenfranchised the rural population" and reflected "very backwards thinking." While a freepost service was offered as an alternative, Yates expressed reservations about sending a substantial cheque through the post.
Joanna Bickersteth, the postmistress at Marshgate Post Office, near Boscastle, confirmed that Yates's experience was not isolated. Many customers expressed frustration over the loss of the service, noting that cheques remain "used a great deal" within local communities. Bickersteth also highlighted that a new banking hub in Bude, operating as a Post Office facility, was similarly unable to process cheque deposits.
Lloyds Banking Group stated that cheques constituted only 0.1% of all UK payments in 2024, citing a long-term decline in their use. The bank confirmed it updated its terms and conditions last year, informing customers about the change. Customers retain the option to deposit cheques via the bank's app, at any branch, or by using their freepost service.
