UK Banks Close One-Third Branches Across Country in Five Years

Bank branch closures across the UK have accelerated, with over one-third of branches shutting down in the past five years as customers increasingly shift to digital banking services. Data from the Office for National Statistics shows the number of branches dropped from 10,410 in 2019 to 6,870 in 2024, and a further 113 closures are planned by November 2025 involving major banks like NatWest, Halifax, Lloyds, and Bank of Scotland. This trend has left many high streets without local bank access, with the UK now having among the highest bank closure rates in Europe, surpassed only by Spain and the Netherlands. Banks such as Santander and NatWest report significant declines in face-to-face transactions and substantial rises in digital usage, with over 80% of NatWest current account holders using digital services. In response, some banks are adopting shared banking hubs and partnerships with post offices to maintain service coverage. Experts note this shift reflects a strategic move by banks to reshape operations around digital platforms rather than merely cost-cutting, although concerns remain about the impact on cash acceptance and community banking access.