South West Devon MP asks Ivybridge residents to share views on local banking access

Residents in Ivybridge are being asked to share their views on how the closure of the town’s last bank branch could affect local access to financial services.

Rebecca Smith, MP for South West Devon, has launched a short survey to understand how people use in-person banking and what they will miss most once Lloyds Bank closes its branch on Fore Street early next year.

The Lloyds branch, as previously reported by The Moorlander, is due to shut its doors on 14 January 2026, and is already the last remaining high-street bank in Ivybridge.

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Its closure will mean local residents will need to travel to nearby towns such as Plymouth or Totnes for most face-to-face banking services.

Following the announcement, LINK, the UK’s largest cash machine network, carried out an Access to Cash review. 

It concluded that Ivybridge would still have access to cash once the branch closes, through existing ATMs and the Post Office.

Rebecca Smith said that while this was welcome news, she wanted to make sure the full picture of residents’ needs was understood.

“While the Access to Cash assessment has confirmed that cash will still be available in Ivybridge, I know that residents rely on face-to-face banking for a range of other services,” she said. 

“I want to make sure those concerns are properly understood and addressed. That’s why I launched this survey so that local people can share their views, concerns and experiences.”

The survey can be filled out online via Ms Smith’s website, and paper copies are available from The Watermark and The Ivybridge Bookshop for anyone who prefers to take part offline.

Ms Smith said she has already received a number of responses and thanked those who had taken the time to share their thoughts.

“Your feedback will help me, Ivybridge Town Council and the Ivybridge Chamber of Commerce to better understand local needs and push for the right solutions,” she said.

Across Devon, many small towns have seen high-street bank closures in recent years, with major banking groups shifting towards online and mobile services. 

For rural communities near Dartmoor, such as Ivybridge, this can pose extra challenges for residents and small businesses who depend on in-person support.

Ms Smith said she will continue to work with local partners and share the results of the survey once responses have been reviewed.