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last mo.

NatWest and Halifax to Shut 39 Branches in September as UK Closures Gather Pace

Digital banking’s rapid uptake is pushing lenders off the high street, prompting an expansion of banking hubs and Post Office access.

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Overview

  • Twenty-six NatWest branches and 13 Halifax branches will close next month, with full location lists published by multiple outlets.
  • Across the autumn, NatWest, Halifax, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland are scheduled to close 113 branches before the end of November, according to industry reporting.
  • Official ONS data shows UK bank, credit union and building society branches fell from 10,410 in 2019 to 6,870 in 2024, a 34% decline.
  • Digital access to banking rose from 33% in 2020 to 59% in 2024, a shift banks cite as the main driver of reduced branch footfall.
  • Regulatory and industry measures include Access to Cash rules, FCA local access assessments, and plans for 350 Post Office‑run banking hubs by 2029, with 179 already open.