A Suffolk Citizens Advice chief has called for banks to create shared hubs in Suffolk's towns amid fears older generations are being 'financially excluded' by bank closures.

Research by charity Age UK has revealed that older people rely on in-person banking with only four in 10 managing their financial affairs online.

Suffolk has seen a spate of bank closures in recent years, with Barclays announcing in March that it intended to shut its branches in Mildenhall and Newmarket in June.

The decision means that Mildenhall - a town of more than 10,000 people- will not have a bank for customers to visit as the Lloyds branch there closed in 2021.

In addition, another banking giant HSBC will be closing its Sudbury and Beccles branches over this spring and summer.

READ MORE: Mildenhall news

Simon Clifton, chief officer at Citizens Advice Mid Suffolk, said his bureau had held a forum which showed that people were struggling to access services generally and that banking would be included in this.

He added there was now an over-reliance 'on digital,' while the bank closures were placing increased pressure on Post Office branches to which customers were being re-directed to withdraw their money.

He said: "We are always putting in actions to make sure we are more accessible to people when we are needed on a face-to-face basis. That is what we are trying to do, but at the same time we have got banks that are withdrawing from market towns."

READ MORE: Suffolk news

Mr Clifton said if banks committed to providing a presence in market towns on one day a week, that would be better than nothing.

"At least for one day a week, somebody can go and see their bank so I am fully in favour of more banking hubs being developed and set up," he said.

READ MORE: HSBC closures: Sudbury and Beccles branches to shut in 2023

Age UK director Caroline Abrahams warned the oldest generation could be 'effectively disenfranchised' by the loss of banks and called for hubs to be set up as quickly as possible.

She added: "These findings therefore demonstrate the huge and continuing demand for face to face banking services among our older population, and it’s crucial that the banks respond."