HIGH street bank branches could be at risk of closure after Lloyds announced it is axing 3,000 jobs- despite making a 101 per cent increase in pre-tax profits.

Lloyds, which had a strong presence in Southend in previous years, is set to close 200 branches by the end of 2017.

The company made the announcement on Thursday.

Lloyds closed its branch in Thorpe Bay on April 14 this year after axing 850 jobs at its Essex House base in Victoria Avenue, Southend, in 2013.

In Basildon, the bank has one branch in the town square and there is a branch in Billericay High Street.

Kevin Blake, deputy leader of Basildon Council, said he hopes the company will see the importance of the branch.

He said: “I would be a little more worried if we had more than one branch, because then you could see them closing one.

“I do think the personal touch is important, I was in there just the other day because I couldn’t sort something out over the internet.

“Metro Bank has just opened so they don’t have the attitude of some of the banks.

“Any job loss, or potential job loss, is a shame but I hope on the basis that it’s the only branch in the area it won’t happen.”

Other possible closures include branches in London Road, Hadleigh, Leigh Broadway and High Street, Billericay.

Lloyds is already carrying out 9,000 redundancies and 200 branch closures, which it announced in 2014.

It says changing patterns of use from customers are behind the closures.

The news of fresh job losses came as Lloyds reported a £2.5bn pre-tax profit for the half year to the end of June 2016. In the same period last year, it made £1.2bn.

Rob MacGregor, national officer for the Unite union, which represents many Lloyds staff, said compulsory redundancies would be opposed.

He said: “This grim news of yet more job losses and branch closures will send a shiver down the spine of Lloyds employees, who have worked hard to make the bank a success and deliver excellent customer service against a backdrop of continual uncertainty.

“There is a real danger that customer service will suffer.”