NATWEST is shutting 49 branches in the coming weeks – starting with two locations today.
The major bank is closing a slew of branches this month and in October.
A total of 26 NatWest branches will be closing this month and more will follow next month[/caption]
The first branches to close will be Cwmbran in South Wales and Wisbech in Cambridgeshire.
A further two stores – Leicester and Rayleigh – will close tomorrow.
Halesowen will shut on Wednesday and the branches in Bristol (Fishponds) and Llangefni will close on Thursday.
In total, 26 NatWest branches are shutting for good this month.
It’s part of a wider trend of banks getting rid of their high street branches currently as they move more to online banking.
NatWest has previously said more than 80% of its current account holders use digital services.
Plus, more than 97% of retail accounts are opened online.
But banking closures can cause difficulties for elderly or vulnerable customers who struggle with using online services.
Research shows 39% of people aged over 65 do not use online banking, putting them at high risk of financial exclusion.
Since 2015, the NatWest Group – which also includes Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank – has shut 1,409 branches.
You can see the full list of locations set to close below…
NatWest closures
- Cwmbran – September 1
- Wisbech – September 1
- Leicester (Melton Road) – September 2
- Rayleigh – September 2
- Halesowen – September 3
- Bristol (Fishponds) – September 4
- Llangefni – September 4
- Ely – September 10
- Leicester (Oadby) – September 10
- Birmingham (Edgbaston) – September 11
- Cardiff (Llanishen) – September 11
- Luton (Leagrave) – September 15
- Northampton (Weston Favell Shopping Centre) – September 15
- Birmingham (Acocks Green) – September 16
- Cardiff (Canton) – September 16
- Cirencester – September 17
- Hinckley – September 17
- Wickford – September 18
- Willerby – September 22
- Abingdon – September 24
- Newmarket (Suffolk) – September 24
- Birmingham (Smethwick) – September 25
- Yate – September 25
- Bicester – September 30
- Sudbury – September 30
- Melton Mowbray – September 29
- Ringwood – October 1
- Leamington Spa – October 1
- Birmingham (Shirley) – October 1
- Paignton – October 2
- Stevenage – October 7
- Wellingborough – October 7
- Midsomer Norton – October 8
- Stratford-upon-Avon – October 8
- Neath – October 13
- Romsey – October 13
- Redditch – October 14
- Chippenham – October 15
- Lowestoft – October 15
- Trowbridge – October 16
- Honiton – October 21
- Mold – October 21
- Dorchester – October 22
- Bridgwater – October 27
- Leighton Buzzard – October 28
- Bridport – October 29
Expected to be confirmed later:
- Garstand
- Market Drayton
- Ashby-de-la-Zouch
- Cromer
- Evesham
- Launceston
- Portishead
- Torquay
What to do if your local bank is set to close
People can still access basic banking services without having to venture to another town with a branch.
You can use one of the Post Office’s 11,684 branches to perform basic banking tasks — but not to open new bank accounts or take personal loans and mortgages.
You can find your nearest Post Office branch by visiting postoffice.co.uk/branch-finder.
Many banks also offer a mobile banking service, where they bring a bus to your area offering services you can usually get at a physical branch.
Other banks use buildings such as village halls or libraries to offer mobile banking services.
It’s worth contacting your bank to see what mobile services they have available, and when they might next be in your area.
Plus, new super ATMs are being rolled out across the UK where branch closures have left residents unable to access essential banking services.
These ATMs will allow customers to withdraw funds, access their balance, change PIN numbers and deposit cash.
Which other banks are closing branches?
Santander will be closing a fifth of its branches in a bid to cut costs.
Last month, the bank closed seven high-street branches with three other sites losing their counter service.
Plus, an estimated 300 Lloyds locations will be closed for good in 2025 and 2026.
And The Bank of Scotland is also shutting four of its branches before the end of the year.
As of last December, 64% of the branches that were open at the start of 2015 are now closed.
Branch closures peaked in 2017, when 867 sites closed across the UK – the equivalent of more than 70 each month.
This was followed closely by 792 closures in 2018.