A Lampeter woman claims she has been told her husband must go up steps and into their bank in person to set up a joint account – despite him being terminally ill and in a wheelchair.

Sian Edwards, a loyal Lloyds customer for over 20 years, wants a joint account with husband Cyrus, 65, in preparation for his loss.

But she said she was shocked to discover that her husband – now in a wheelchair – would have to attend the bank in person and negotiate a flight of steps in order to sign the necessary documents.

“I think Lloyds are showing an appalling discrimination against customers who are disabled and terminally ill,” she told the Cambrian News.

“I’m not asking for a bank loan, I’m just asking for my name to be put on my husband’s account to make things easier for me in the future.

“Lloyds have suggested I use their Carmarthen branch instead, but why should we have to travel 25 miles when there’s a branch on our own doorstep?

“Cyrus has to use a wheelchair to go out as well as requiring oxygen, so such a trip would be extremely stressful for us both.

“Lloyds’ attitude is absolutely diabolical.”

A Lloyds spokesperson said: “We were very sorry to hear of the difficulties being experienced by Mr Edwards and have been in regular contact with both him and his family.

"Due to his circumstances, we have arranged for a member of our local branch team to visit him at home so that he can more easily make these changes to his account.”

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