Lloyds Bank in Wellington closed on Monday, March 25, bringing more than 200 years of banking in the building to an end.

It comes just days after the town’s temporary banking hub opened its doors, saving residents from losing local banking services altogether.

The bank had originally planned to close in September last year but agreed to keep its doors open for a further six months to give more time for the banking hub to open.

It marks the end of an era for the historic building, which before being purchased by Lloyds in 1927 had been privately owned by Fox, Fowler & Company, which had set up the bank to help manage its wool business.

It was the last surviving of 50 Fox & Fowler branches and even issued its own currency - which remained legal tender until 1964.

There had been speculation that the building come become the banking hub’s permanent home.