NatWest has confirmed closures of dozens of branches throughout the UK, adding to the 1,431 closed branches since January 2015.
In 2024, 48 branches closed for good, an increase on the 20 in 2023. As it stands at the moment, 53 more branches will close in 2025, with some already having shut their doors.
NatWest itself has said that closures are part of a bank-wide push to focus on digital banking services, which it claims its customers prefer to use.
“Our customers are using digital banking more than ever before – over 80 per cent of our active current account holders now use our digital services and over 97 per cent of retail accounts with us are now opened online,” said the bank.
“Like any business, we strive to meet our customers’ changing needs and expectations and we’ve been responding to the industry-wide shift towards digital services by investing to broaden what customers can do themselves and to offer them greater personalisation.
“We are also significantly investing in refreshing our network – we expect to invest in excess of £20m in our network across the UK in 2025 to improve customer service, enhance the look and feel of our branches, and reduce the environmental impact of our buildings, as well as continuing to invest in shared solutions like the Post Office and Banking Hubs.”
However, this does leave customers who rely on physical, local banks without services, such as elderly people, disabled people, small business owners, or those in rural areas with poor connectivity.
Those groups may struggle to rely on online services, but also struggle to find a local branch near them.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) watchdog has mandated that banks and building societies that are shutting down branches need to make sure people in the local community can still access their money and financial services. Measures to plug these gaps include opening ATMs or banking hubs at Post Offices.
These branch closures, as well as those at other bank chains, with the UK expected to be using cash for only 21 per cent of purchases. Some businesses are also increasingly only offering cards as a payment option.
Not every bank is struggling however, with Nationwide claiming its high street branches are thriving.
In the meantime, Natwest has confirmed which branches are closing in the UK. Find the full list below.
Which Natwest branches are closing?
- Alfreton – June 2
- Accrington – June 5
- Uttoxeter – June 2
- Mexborough – June 3
- Heaton Chapel – June 3
- Ellesmere Port – June 4
- Stockton-on-Tees – June 4
- Accrington – June 5
- Longton – June 5
- Leeds, Cross Gates – June 10
- Rochdale – June 10
- Bridlington – June 11
- Manchester – June 11
- Keighley – June 16
- Leek – June 16
- Newark-on-Trent – June 17
- Washington – June 17
- Worksop – June 18
- Nantwich – June 19
- Stockport, Hazel Grove – June 19
- St Annes On Sea – June 24
- West Bridgford – June 24
- Beverley – June 25
- Stafford – June 25
- Garstang – June 26
- Mansfield – June 26
- Market Drayton – date TBC
- Cleveleys – already closed
- Bishop Auckland – already closed
- Cleveleys – already closed
- Dewsbury – already closed
- Failsworth – already closed
- Chapel Allerton – already closed
- Middleton – already closed
- Morley- already closed
- West Denton – already closed
- Ecclesall Road, Sheffield – already closed
- Widnes – already closed
- Windermere – already closed
- Blackburn, Audley, Copy Nook – already closed
- Cannock – already closed
- Derby, Allenton – already closed
- Urmston – already closed
- Goole – already closed
- Liverpool, Walton Vale – already closed
- Farnworth – already closed
- Leyland, Golden Hill, Chapel Brow – already closed
- Salford, Trafford Park, Third Avenue – already closed
- Wilmslow – already closed
- Nottingham, Sherwood, Hucknall Road – already closed
- Wallasey – already closed
- Louth – already closed
- Long Eaton – already closed
- Rawtenstall – already closed
