Stuart Anderson MP has said he is "hugely disappointed" that Yorkshire Building Society plans to close their agency in Church Stretton in the new year.
On 3rd October 2025, Yorkshire Building Society issued a six-month closure notice, which they said will allow consultation with customers, colleagues, and stakeholders.
The agency, which is located at Wrights Estate Agents on Sandford Avenue in Church Stretton, is scheduled to close on 26th January 2026.
The building society offers a range of services including various mortgage options, products to help residents save money, and financial planning tools at more than 200 branches and agencies across the UK.
Should the agency close, customers from South Shropshire will have to travel to Welshpool, Newport, Wolverhampton, Stourbridge, or Bearwood in Birmingham to access in-person services.
Yorkshire Building Society added that only half of their customers across the country used a branch or agency to open a new account last year. In 2019, this figure stood at 95%.
Yorkshire Building Society has said that they will offer personalised support and guidance to help vulnerable customers use online and telephone banking services.
In a letter to Stuart, Yorkshire Building Society stated that customers and transactions have both halved over the last year. They added:
The closure of the Yorkshire Building Society agency is scheduled to take place on 26 January 2026. Compared to other Yorkshire Building Society outlets, the agency in Church Stretton is not well-used. Last year, it had 56% fewer active customers and 51% fewer transactions than the average branch or agency. It serves only 0.031% of our customers and members. We understand those who still use the agency may be disappointed, and that local access to financial services is important, particularly for more vulnerable members of the community. Yorkshire Building Society does not offer a current account and is not covered by access to cash rules, but we have carefully considered the impact on customers and will be providing them with support so they can continue to transact with us.
In his response, Stuart has asked Yorkshire Building Society to reconsider their decision. Stuart wants to ensure that residents can continue to access to banking services. He said:
"I am hugely disappointed that Yorkshire Building Society plans to close its Church Stretton agency in the new year. In South Shropshire, many residents continue to rely on in-person services for access to a wide range of financial and banking products. As such, I hope that this decision can be reconsidered.
As part of my plan to support local communities, I want to ensure that areas like Church Stretton can continue to access high street banking services and financial products. While decisions to open or close branches are of course commercial decisions for firms, I hope that Yorkshire Building Society carefully considers the needs of local residents. As you may know, the Countryside Alliance has warned that bank closures in rural areas, especially in the absence of reliable mobile or broadband connectivity, can present serious challenges. This is particularly the case for older people.
In South Shropshire, more than 29,000 residents are aged 65 or above. This accounts for a third of residents, confirming the continued reliance on and need for in-person services. If the closure must go ahead, I hope that Yorkshire Building Society will minimise the impact on residents as much as possible. To that end, I am encouraged that Yorkshire Building Society plans to offer personalised support and guidance to help vulnerable customers use online and telephone banking services. I would implore you to reconsider this decision and, at the very least, to urgently share more details about planned continuity of services. I hope to receive your response at the earliest possible opportunity."
Following the news, Stuart has also vowed to step up his campaign to secure banking hubs in local communities across South Shropshire.
Stuart launched his campaign in January 2025, when Lloyds Bank announced the closure of branches in both Ludlow and Bridgnorth.
Almost 200 residents signed Stuart's petition calling for banking hubs in South Shropshire, which he launched in February. Stuart has said that local hubs would help retain access to cash and banking services.
In a Westminster Hall Debate in June 2025, Stuart added that he ‘does not want to wait until every bank to close before we get a banking hub.’
Stuart Anderson MP said:
"I am hugely disappointed that Yorkshire Building Society plans to close their Church Stretton agency in the new year. In South Shropshire, many residents continue to rely on in-person services for access to a range of financial services. As such, I want to ensure that our local communities can continue to access to high street banking services. I have asked for this decision to be reconsidered. In the meantime, I will continue to campaign for the creation of banking hubs in South Shropshire."
Residents can find their nearest branch or agency on Yorkshire Building Society's website at www.ybs.co.uk/contact-us/branch-finder.
