Overview
- Nationwide’s guarantee covers 605 Nationwide sites and 91 Virgin Money branches acquired in 2024, including locations that sit close to each other.
- Branch usage rose 11% in the year to September, with 33% of new current accounts and 22% of savings accounts opened in person over the past six months, up 28% and 31% year on year.
- Nationwide reports it is the last branch in 133 towns and villages, with 33 more becoming “last in town” since January as rivals exited.
- The pledge contrasts with sector retrenchment, with Which? estimating more than 6,000 closures since 2015 and about 6,731 branches gone by the end of next year.
- Branches are being positioned as community hubs, hosting dementia clinics, providing safe spaces for domestic abuse survivors, and offering digital skills support.