Banking group NatWest have announced today a further 36 branches across the UK will close down between 2023 and 2024.
This decision has come as a blow to high streets across the country, and will continue the trend of the departure of banks from shopping hotspots, reports the Mirror. In an update on Wednesday, NatWest confirmed they will close 34 of their branches between September 2023 and July 2024.
They also announced that their sister bank, RBS, will shut down two additional sites in November 2023. This news means the total number of NatWest sites to close in 2023 and 2024 now stands at 140, while the RBS figure rises to four.
The latest round of closures has contrasted with the Nationwide Building Society news in June, where they promised to keep their high street sites open until 2026 - in a bid to keep face-to-face banking thriving in local communities.
This news means Nationwide has vowed to keep its 605 branches open for at least the next three years.
Major British lenders have cut hundreds of branches in the past year, arguing they are far less popular than they used to be - as most people prefer digital banking.
Barclays, Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, NatWest, RBS, TSB, Virgin Money and Nationwide have announced the closure of about 330 branches between them since the start of the year, according to data from Link, a cash machine company.
Banking giants like Lloyds and Barclays have said the number of visitors to their high street branches has dropped sharply in previous years, as online and mobile banking soars.
However, Nationwide said people still want the choice to visit their bank in person. Approximately 63 per cent of people say they still value their local bank, according to the lender’s survey of about 2,000 consumers.
People cited their top reasons for local branches to stay open as withdrawing cash, opening an account, getting financial advice, checking balances and discussing money difficulties.
If you need face-to-face support and your bank is shutting, it is worth seeing if a NatWest mobile branch or community pop-up bank is available near you.
RBS closures announced on July 5
- High Street, Dingwall, IV15 9HF, Scotland
- 288 Brook Street, Dundee, DD5 2AP, Scotland
NatWest closures announced on July 5
- 25 Corporation Street, Corby, NN16 1NR, England - September 26, 2023
- Unit 4, St. Oswald’s Retail Park, Gloucester, GL1 2SR, England - September 26, 2023
- 403 Bethnal Green Road, London, E2 0AF, England - September 27, 2023
- 9 Devonshire Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN40 1GW, England - September 27, 2023
- 60 High Street, Bognor Regis, PO21 1DA, England - September 28, 2023
- 70 Denmark Hill, Camberwell, SE5 8SD, England - September 28, 2023
- 5 High Street, Gosport, PO12 1DA, England - October 3, 2023
- 39 Grimsby Road, Cleethorpes, DN35 7AQ, England - October 3, 2023
- 1 Romsey Road, Southampton, SO16 4GT, England
- 87 High Street, Sidcup, DA14 6DL, England
- 12 The Broadway, Southgate, N14 6PL, England
- 131 Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, RG5 3JX, England
- 9 The Broadway, Stanmore, HA7 4DA, England
- 11 Fore Street, Tiverton, EX16 6LW, England
- Unit 29 Rosevale Road, Parkhouse Industrial Estate, ST5 7EF, England
- Unit 5, The Willett Building, London, SW1W 8DL, England
- 15 Mary Rose Mall, Beckton, E6 5ZZ England
- 1 High Street, Weybridge, KT13 8UA, England
- Bawtry Road, Wickersley, S66 1JY, England
- 463 Bury New Road, Prestwich, M25 1AB, England
- Bedford Square, Tavistock, PL19 0AQ, England
- 38 High Street, Alton, GU34 1BF, England
- 11 Rolle Street, Exmouth, EX8 1HH, England
- 119 Boundary Road, Norwich, NR6 5JD, England
- 53 High Street, Wanstead, E11 2AB, England
- 7 Hinckley Road, Leicester, LE3 0TQ, England
- 4 Commercial Square, Camborne, TR14 8EB, England
- St. Andrews Cross, Plymouth, PL4 0AE, England
- 100 The Crescent, Colchester, CO4 9GN, England
- 2 The Sandlings, Ipswich, IP3 9YY, England
- 15 Chester Road, West Shotton, CH5 1DF, Wales
- 34 Henrietta Street, London, WC2E 8NL, England
- 20 Melbourne Street, Stalybridge, SK15 2JQ, England
- 10 Banks Road, West Kirby, CH48 4LG, England
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