The UK’s high streets are set to become even more desolate this year, as hundreds more banks are closing their doors for good.
The number of bank branches across the UK has dwindled gradually in recent years as customers increasingly turn to online and mobile banking.
In fact, figures from last December showed 6,214 bank branches have shut since January 2015 – around 53 every single month.
While hundreds of branches have closed this year already, there are more in the pipeline over the coming months.
NatWest has confirmed 54 further branch closures, followed by Santander with 42 sites.
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Many people, such as older or disabled customers or small business owners, rely on local bank branches.
The issue is compounded for those in rural areas, which may have poor broadband or mobile phone signal, making it difficult to access internet banking.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) says banks and building societies shutting down branches must ensure people in the local community can still access their money.
Santander said previously that 93% of the UK population will still be within 10 miles of a branch even after the closures of more than a fifth of its branches.
The banking giant said it has made the ‘difficult decision’ to close branches due to changing customer behaviour as most of its customers turn to online banking.
A NatWest spokesperson told Metro that more than 80% of its current account holders use digital services, and over 97% of retail accounts are opened online.
Banks need to open ATMs or open banking hubs at Post Offices if gaps are found. Basic banking services can be carried out at a Post Office otherwise.
Sam Richardson, Which?’s deputy editor, highlighted the ‘seismic’ shift towards online banking evident in today’s society.
He said: ‘The milestone of more than 6,000 bank closures in just nine years underscores the seismic shift that has taken place in terms of our banking habits and the character of the British high street.’
Not every bank is closing branches, however. HSBC pledged last year that it would not announce any closures until at least 2026.
Nationwide has gone a step further and promised it won’t close any branches until at least 2028.
And a spokesperson for Metro Bank told Metro that it wasn’t planning to close any branches this year, and is in fact opening three new branches in Gateshead, Chester, and Salford.
After a spate of closures this year, Barclays told Metro it has no plans to announce any further branch closures for the rest of 2025 or 2026.
Here is the list of branch closures coming up this summer and autumn.
NatWest closures
- Garstand, expected to be confirmed later
- Market Drayton, expected to be confirmed later
- Willerby, September 22
- Abingdon, September 24
- Birmingham (Acocks Green), September 16
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch, expected to be confirmed later
- Bicester, September 30
- Bridgwater, October 27
- Bridport, October 29
- Cardiff (Canton), September 16
- Chippenham, October 15
- Cirencester, September 17
- Cromer, expected to be announced
- Cwmbran, September 1
- Dorchester, October 22
- Birmingham (Edgbaston), September 11
- Ely, September 10
- Evesham, expected to be confirmed later
- Bristol (Fishponds), September 4
- Halesowen, September 3
- Hinckley, September 17
- Honiton, October 21
- Launceston, expected to be confirmed later
- Luton (Leagrave), September 15
- Leicester (Melton Road), September 2
- Leighton Buzzard, October 28
- Llangefni, September 4
- Cardiff (Llanishen), September 11
- Lowestoft, October 15
- Melton Mowbray, September 29
- Midsomer Norton, October 8
- Mold, October 21
- Neath, October 13
- Newmarket (Suffolk), September 24
- Northampton (Weston Favell Shopping Centre), September 15
- Leicester (Oadby), September 10
- Paignton, October 2
- Portishead, expected to be confirmed later
- Rayleigh, September 2
- Redditch, October 14
- Ringwood, October 1
- Romsey, October 13
- Leamington Spa, October 1
- Birmingham (Shirley), October 1
- Birmingham (Smethwick), September 25
- Stevenage, October 7
- Stratford-upon-Avon, October 8
- Sudbury, September 30
- Torquay, expected to be confirmed later
- Trowbridge, October 16
- Wellingborough, October 7
- Wickford, September 18
- Wisbech, September 1
- Yate, September 25
Santander closures
- Blyth, August 4
- Brixton, August 11
- Canvey Island, August 5
- Colwyn Bay, July 24
- Downpatrick, August 6
- Edgware Road, August 12
- Farnham, July 29
- Finchley, August 6
- Formby, August 11
- Hawick, July 24
- Hertford, July 29
- Holywell, August 13
- New Milton, July 28
- Plympton, August 14
- Pudsey, July 28
- Ross-On-Wye, July 30
- Rustington, August 5
- Sidcup, August 11
- St Neots, July 30
- Stokesley, July 31
- Surrey Quays, November 10
- Whitley Bay, August 6
- Willerby, August 13
- Wimborne, August 4
A further 18 branches have been earmarked for closure and the date will be announced later.
Halifax closures
- Barrow-in-Furness, September 10
- Bexleyheath, October 23
- Blackpool (South Shore), October 29
- Brentwood, September 10
- Bristol (Kingswood), October 8
- Carmarthen, October 6
- Castleford, September 8
- Cirencester, September 25
- Crewe, October 14
- Derby, October 23
- Eltham, October 29
- Epsom, September 15
- Erdington, September 24
- Folkestone, October 9
- Hayes (Hillingdon), October 6
- Hexham, November 11
- Hove, October 20
- London Clapham Junction, September 23
- Long Eaton, September 18
- Mold, October 16
- Nortwich, September 3
- Rhyl, September 23
- Richmond (Surrey), September 16
- Skegness, September 3
- Southport, October 7
- Stevenage, October 23
- Telford, October 22
- Walkden, September 25
- Wickford, November 10
- Woolwich, October 1
- Bolton, November 20
- Manchester (Stretford), October 15
Lloyds closures
- Biggleswade, November 5
- Blandford Forum, November 10
- Bristol Bishopsworth (Church Road), November 6
- Bury, October 21
- Chard, November 11
- Coventry (Foleshill), November 4
- Debden, November 12
- Dunstable, November 4
- East Grinstead, November 12
- Feltham, November 4
- Ferndown, November 17
- Hexham, November 5
- Hornchurch, September 11
- Kidderminster, October 16
- Leeds (Cross Gates), August 20
- London Tooting, October 8
- Manchester (Newton Heath), November 5
- Plymstock, November 4
- Pontardawe, November 20
- Sheffield (Woodhouse), November 11
- Shipston-on-Stour, November 11
- Southall, October 15
- Stoke-on-Trent (Trent), October 10
- Walthamstow High Street, October 22
Bank of Scotland closures
- Edinburgh (Corstorphine), October 29
- Moffat, November 19
- Pitlochry, October 30
- Thornhill, November 3
This article was first published on March 20, 2025
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