THE date for the start of Fairford’s new mobile service has been confirmed as Wednesday, April 5.

Lloyds Bank announced the plans to introduce the part-time service in January, with the permanent branch having closed in November, leaving the town without a High Street bank.

Initially, the date for the start of the service was not clear, but was confirmed by town clerk Vanessa Lawrence at a full council meeting on Tuesday (March 14).

The new branch will be stationed in the Market Place, for short periods of time on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Lloyds is also closing its nearby Highworth branch on April 8 – with the two towns to share the new service.

Personal customers will be able to use the mobile branch to make deposits, withdraw cash and pay bills.

Staff in the mobile branch will also help customers to use online banking and to make general account enquiries.

Business customers will also have access to basic services such as making deposits and withdrawing cash.

The full times for the Fairford branch are:

  • Monday 1pm-2.15pm
  • Wednesday 9.30am-11am
  • Friday 9.30am-11.15am

Also at Tuesdays meeting, former mayor and business club founder, Cllr Chris Roberts revealed talks are ongoing with two other banks about potential services in the town.

"I've been approached by two different banks who are interested in coming to Fairford,” she said.

“I went to see one of the directors of one bank this morning at her request.

“She doesn't know quite yet how it would work but is willing to take proposals forward to her commercial director and her retail director.”

Cllr Roberts said: “It wouldn't be a mobile service to replace Lloyd's one.

“But they would be looking at possibly a part-time service.

“It's very early days and I hope to know a bit next week.”

She went on to say: “What I found was really weird was that it is starting on April 5 in Fairford and Highworth and the bank in Highworth [will be open] until April 8.

“So they're going to have two banking services on the fifth and seventh of April.

“Highworth are going to have a showcasing event on March 22 because they already have their bank still, but Fairford will not,” she said.