Graham has secured the return of cheque deposits for Lloyds customers at Banking Hubs after a campaign that began with a conversation at one of his Withernsea Street Surgeries.
Mr and Mrs Proctor told Graham they were frustrated that Lloyds customers could not pay cheques into their accounts at Banking Hubs, despite other major banks allowing their customers to do so.
It was a practical problem that was particularly difficult for people who still rely on face-to-face banking.
Graham listened and took it up directly with Lloyds.
When the bank did not change its position, Graham stepped up the pressure. He raised the issue in Parliament, gathered evidence from local people and rallied MPs from every part of the House of Commons behind the campaign.
His cross-party letter to Lloyds Chief Executive Charlie Nunn was eventually backed by 121 MPs, including Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Green, SNP, Plaid Cymru and independent MPs.
Lloyds then changed its mind.
In June, the bank said it had “reflected” on the case made by customers and MPs and would seek to restore the service.
Now the result is confirmed. From 1 September, Lloyds personal and business customers will once again be able to deposit cheques at banking and cash Hubs, such as those in Withernsea, Hedon and Hornsea as well as Post Office branches across the country.
It is another practical result from Graham’s work to protect local services in Beverley and Holderness.
When Lloyds planned to close its Hedon branch, Graham successfully pushed for the town to get a Cash Hub. When there was a risk of Lloyds closing before the new Hub was ready, he helped secure an extension so people were not left without face-to-face banking.
And when Mr and Mrs Proctor brought another problem with local banking to his Street Surgery in Withernsea, Graham listened and got to work.
Graham said:
“Mr and Mrs Proctor came to see me at my Street Surgery in Withernsea with a simple problem. They couldn’t pay a cheque into their Lloyds account at their local Banking Hub.
“They were right to expect better, so I wrote to Lloyds and asked them to change it.
“When they wouldn’t, I kept going. I raised it in Parliament and brought together 121 MPs from every part of the House of Commons to make it impossible for Lloyds to ignore.
“Now Lloyds has changed its mind and, from 1 September, its customers will once again be able to pay in cheques at Banking Hubs.
“That’s my job. Listen to local people, work out how to get something changed and keep at it until we get a result.
“I’m grateful to Mr and Mrs Proctor for raising it with me in the first place, and to all the MPs from across Parliament who helped me get this done.”
