Santander has announced a spate of bank branch closures this summer, spelling bad news for UK high streets.
The banking giant confirmed the closure of dozens of branches in June across UK high streets, which have been blighted by the exodus of banks and businesses in recent years.
The first branches have already bid farewell, with more to follow this week.
Further closures are lined up in July, while some branches will see their opening hours slashed.
Here is a full list of towns where people will lose their Santander branch this week.
- Clacton – June 16
- Croydon – June 16
- Gateshead Metro – June 16
- Launceston – June 16
- Peterhead – June 16
- Arbroath – June 17
- Kilburn – June 17
- Louth – June 17
- Torquay – June 17
- Kidderminster – June 18
Other banks are also axing branches this summer, including NatWest, Lloyds and Halifax.
You can find the full list of June closures here.
Why are so many Santander branches closing?
Santander blamed changing customer behaviour for the wave of closures.
Many retail banks which have exited high streets have said majority of their customers use online banking.
A Santander spokesperson told Metro: ‘As customer behaviour changes, we are ensuring that our branches remain fit for the future.
Our new combination of full-service branches, alongside Work Cafés, counter-free branches and reduced hours branches, aims to provide the right balance between digital banking and face-to-face money management and guidance.
As a business, we must move with customers and balance our investment across all the places where we interact with customers, to deliver the very best for them now and in the future.
‘Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimise the impact it may have on our customers.
‘However, we believe that the introduction of our new Community Bankers and the exciting plans we have for our remaining network of 349 branches and Work Cafés, alongside the rapid and innovative improvements to our award-winning mobile banking app, will provide the right balance of digital banking and human interaction when required.’
NatWest branch closures this week
NatWest has also confirmed 24 closures this month.
Here are the ones closing this week to June 22.
- Keighley – June 16
- Leek – June 16
- Newark-on-Trent – June 17
- Nantwich – June 19
- Newark-on-Trent – June 17
- Washington – June 17
- Stockport, Hazel Grove – June 19
- Worksop – June 18
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