More than 100 bank branches are expected to close in 2026 as major banks continue to reduce their presence on the high street.
Since the beginning of this year, closure dates have been confirmed for 73 branches of leading banks such as Lloyds, NatWest, Santander, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland. Additionally, 29 branches have announced closure plans without setting a final date, bringing the total closures to 102. Lloyds leads with 40 branches nearing closure or awaiting confirmation dates.
The upcoming closures include 18 Santander branches, 17 Bank of Scotland branches, 15 Halifax branches, and seven NatWest branches. Last year, Lloyds and Santander had already announced multiple closures, citing customers’ shift towards digital banking services.
By the end of this month, 35 branches will have closed, followed by two in February and 23 in March. The remaining closures are scheduled for July and October or are yet to be determined. Cornwall has been significantly impacted by these closures, with four banks set to close this year and two without closure dates.
In recent years, several closures have occurred, with a total of 45 banks shutting down, including 13 last year, six in 2024, 14 in 2023, and six in 2022. Scotland’s Highland council area is also facing closures, with six banks expected to shut this year, two of which have not announced closure dates.
Scotland is expected to lose 20 banks in total, with Wales losing five and Northern Ireland losing one. The South East and South West of England are the most affected regions, with 17 bank branches closing in each. Since February 2022, over 2,000 branches have either closed or announced closure plans following a voluntary agreement by major banking groups to evaluate the impact of each closure.
To mitigate the impact of branch closures, the LINK initiative ensures the establishment of banking hubs or free ATMs in communities left without local banks. The shift towards digital banking is driven by changing consumer preferences, prompting the need for additional cash services to cater to those who still rely on traditional banking methods.
Gareth Oakley, CEO of Cash Access UK, highlighted the opening of more banking hubs to serve customers from various banks in one location. These hubs, along with new cash solutions, aim to provide convenient access to cash services for businesses and consumers amidst the evolving banking landscape.
