As UK bank branches continue to close across the country, customers of major banking groups such as Halifax, NatWest, Lloyds, and Barclays are being warned to prepare for further disruptions in April 2025. According to Birmingham Live, the closures are part of a broader trend that has seen over 6,293 branches shut down since January 2015, as banks increasingly move towards digital and remote services.
The Impact of Bank Branch Closures research from consumer champion Which? highlights that NatWest Group, which includes NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), and Ulster Bank, has closed the most branches of any UK banking group, totaling 1,431 locations. Meanwhile, Lloyds Banking Group, encompassing Lloyds Bank, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland, has shut 1,321 branches. Barclays follows closely behind, having reduced its network by 1,236 branches.
This shift to digital services is reshaping how customers access banking. The closures have raised concerns, particularly among those in rural areas who rely on physical bank branches for essential services. Many customers may find it increasingly difficult to access in-person options such as cash withdrawals, cheque deposits, and financial advice.
Effective January 2025, Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland customers can use branches among the three banks for everyday banking transactions. This arrangement is designed to provide some continuity, meaning that services like cash deposits, withdrawals, and cheque submissions will remain available at branches of these banks. However, despite this, customers will still face a significant challenge due to the overall reduction in physical bank locations.
Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, warns impacted customers: “If you no longer want to stay with Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland, you might want to consider switching to a bank that does have a local branch nearby – although bear in mind there’s no guarantee that won’t close as well.”
For those unable to access a nearby branch, banking services can still be conducted through local Post Offices for basic transactions, such as cash withdrawals and deposits.
Several major closures are scheduled for April 2025, with key locations already announced. Customers of Halifax will see branches close down in Malton (April 8), Chippenham (April 15), and Newbury (April 16). Other affected Halifax locations include Oswestry, Runcorn, and Tamworth, with more closures continuing throughout the month.
Likewise, NatWest will begin closing branches in Cleveleys, Dewsbury, and Bishop Auckland towards the end of April. Barclays is set to shut its Cockermouth branch on April 4, while Lloyds customers will experience branch closures in places such as Kenilworth (April 2) and Hitchin (April 7).
The situation is echoed in Cornwall, where businesses and residents express concerns about the lack of brick-and-mortar banking facilities. The Lloyds branch in Launceston is set to close on May 12, followed closely by the Halifax branch on June 3 and Santander’s branch on June 16.
Local business owners in Launceston have voiced their worries about how these closures could affect footfall, negatively impacting commerce. Lloyds customer Mary Alford stated, “It’s a disaster really, especially for the town.” She highlighted the difficulties individuals like herself face, having to travel 16 miles (25 kilometers) to get to a bank. She needs to travel further if she wants to continue doing business with Lloyds.
Merwyn Quick, owner of Quick and Son flooring, expressed frustration over the bank closures, saying: “People are coming into town usually to put money in or take money out... if you take the banks away, what other reason is there to come into town?” For him, the footfall is crucial for maintaining business viability.
Craig Chapman, owner of the hairdressing salon Hub Cornwall, shared similar sentiment, pointing out that the absence of accessible business banking facilities is outrageous given that business fees remain the same or are increasing. “The fact that there isn’t a business advisor to be able to visit I just think is outrageous,” he stated.
Managing Director Ian Warren of Philip Warren butchers, one of the biggest employers in the area with over 100 staff, reiterated that the closure of these banks would only worsen the situation for local businesses. He believes customers come to market towns primarily for the conveniences that come from accessing banking services.
A spokesperson for Lloyds noted that over 76% of their personal customers have already adapted to alternate banking methods such as mobile, internet, or phone banking. To counterbalance the closures, Lloyds plans to assign community bankers to areas for face-to-face support, aiming to offer localized assistance for as long as the community needs it. “We will discuss with local communities which locations would be appropriate for our community banker to set up in, and on which days,” a spokesperson mentioned.
Meanwhile, Santander has included its Launceston branch in a plan to close 95 banks across the UK, reportedly after careful consideration of their customer base and foot traffic. A spokesperson from Santander Australia indicated, “Closing a branch is always a very difficult decision and we spend a great deal of time assessing where and when we do this and how to minimize the impact it may have on our customers.”
However, with the shift toward digital banking, many customers continue to feel anxious about the future of their access to essential services that traditional banks have provided for years, particularly in small towns like Launceston.
The closures underscore a broader trend affecting the banking landscape in the UK, raising questions about how these changes will shape the future of banking and local communities.
