LLOYDS Bank has been described as being “cheeky” after it switched an account belonging to Wellington Town Council to another.

Members of the council’s policy and finance committee were told on November 11 that the authority’s treasurers’ account with Lloyds had been changed to a business account.

Managing director for accounts and deposits at Lloyds, John Ramage, said the council’s existing account was designed for “smaller clubs and societies with a lower turnover of under £50,000.”

“As the council’s current turnover is more than this, we’re changing it to a business account which means we will start to charge an annual maintenance fee and for day-to-day banking services,” he said.

Councillors were told there would now be an £8.50 fee for the business account and for day-to-day banking services such as electronic, cash and cheque payments.

Cllr John Thorne said: “This is a bit of a cheek from Lloyds Bank. Do all banks do it or can we find a bank that doesn’t? Can we look around to see if we can find a bank that won’t charge us?”

But Cllr Justin Cole said: “It’s just £8.50 a month – that’s the cost of doing business.”

And Cllr Mark Lithgow said: “We’ve been getting away with free banking for a number of years. I think we should look around.”

It was said during the discussion that not a lot of transactions were made by cheque these days which would, under the business account, see a £1 charge for every cheque paid in.