Council confident 'prominent' Chesterfield town centre building won't be vacant for long as TSB closes doors

TSB is shutting its Market Place branch on April 7 in a move which has sparked concern about the loss of jobs, another bank in the town and a well-known building falling vacant.

The bank says the closure, one of 164 earmarked across the country with the loss of 900 jobs, is due to changes in the way people do their banking.

However, Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins said the decision was ‘hugely disappointing’.

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"It’s a massive blow,” the Labour MP said. “We need banks in our town centres. There is not another TSB in Chesterfield so it is very difficult to see how they can say they are continuing to serve the people of the town.

"I’m hoping to speak to the bank about it. It’s hugely disappointing and I think they could lose a lot of loyal customers.”

Councillor Dean Collins, cabinet member for economic growth at Chesterfield Borough Council, said the loss of jobs and a prominent building becoming vacant is ‘always upsetting’.

"Despite many people moving to online banking we know that many in our community still prefer to deal with financial matters in person and this will of course make banking much more difficult for these people,” Coun Collins added.

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"I am certain that a prominent location like that will not remain vacant for long and I hope TSB are communicating with their customers to ensure they can continue to access services in a way that is convenient for them.”

TSB said it had looked ‘carefully’ at the branch and how customers used it before making the decision.

“The way customers bank with us is rapidly evolving with the vast majority of everyday transactions now being done digitally,” the bank said in a statement on its website.

"Over 2.1 million of our customers now choose to bank online, and over 1.3 million use our Mobile Banking App.

"Even prior to Covid-19 customers were choosing other ways to bank with us.”

TSB says it is offering help to customers during the changes and the nearest branch to Chesterfield will now be seven miles away at Bolsover.

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