NatWest has announced the closure of a high street bank in Bolton. The bank on Lee Lane in the centre of Horwich will shut, although an exact closure date has yet to be confirmed, it was announced on Thursday.
It's one of 23 branch closures across the country confirmed by NatWest, adding to dozens that have already been closed by other banking companies so far this month. A banking 'hub' is expected to be created in Horwich instead, with a Post Office-provided counter service.
The bank said it had chosen 21 sites in England to shut down and two in Wales. Sites including Frome, Bootle, Stroud and Blackpool will shut down between late April and the start of June, NatWest said. The timing of the closure of the branches in Horwich and Shoreham-by-Sea have yet to be decided.
On its website, NatWest said comparing January 2019 with January last year, counter transactions at the Horwich branch fell by some 66 per cent.
The bank said: "The way people bank with us has changed dramatically in recent years, with an increased demand for mobile and online services as customers benefit from a faster and easier way to bank.
"Closing a branch is a decision we take very seriously. We know it can affect people who are less confident with the alternatives we offer, and we'll always work hard to guide you through the changes and find the best way to serve you from now on."
The announcement comes just a week after Lloyds Banking Group said it would close 40 Halifax and Lloyds sites in England and Wales. As Lloyds, TSB and Barclays also announced closures earlier this month, data shows that 87 bank branch closures have been announced so far this year, less than a month in.
At the time Lloyds blamed footfall, which has been rapidly decreasing since the onset of online banking and dropped further during the pandemic. It said the number of customers visiting the branches it plans to close had dropped by 60 per cent on average over the last five years.
NatWest did not immediately respond to request for comment. In October NatWest announced it planned to close 43 branches, adding to 15 announced in May and 21 in February.
They will shut down between the end of April and the beginning of May, with two closure dates yet to be decided.
As Lloyds, TSB and Barclays announced closures earlier this month, it means that 87 bank branch closures have been announced so far this year, less than a month in.
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