High Street banks are shutting more than 10 branches a week in a wave of nationwide closures, new figures have revealed, as Burton and South Derbyshire have been hit four times in the last year.

While the closures will save millions of pounds, they have meant many customers are now having to travelling to Derby to their nearest branch, or having to sign up for internet banking services.

More than 550 outlets are being axed by leading lenders this year, according to figures compiled by the Daily Mail and consumer group Which? This is on top of more than 1,000 branches which were shut in the previous two years.

The banks insist they are just following their customers, who have moved online in droves.

In the last year Burton has seen its Co-operative and Yorkshire banks close, while HSBC closed its Castle Donington branch, but saved Burton in January, this year. Natwest closed its Melbourne branch and one in Derby last year.

Yorkshire bank closed in Burton

It has also recently been announced that the Royal Bank of Scotland could see branches closed in a reorganisation of the company.

Banks including Barclays, Santender, Lloyds, Natwest and HSBC are still open for business in Burton and Swadlincote however.

Closures have also been blamed for a loss of trade elsewhere in towns because people often go to the town centre to visit a bank, and then use nearby stores.

Burton businessman Mike Cherry, of the Federation of Small Businesses, told the Daily Mail: "Our members routinely deal with customers who want to pay in cash. Once a town loses a bank branch it hurts footfall, particularly in tourist hotspots, and means business owners have to spend time travelling out of town to use banking services."

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