Overview

• Official ONS figures show UK bank, credit union and building society branches fell from 10,410 in 2019 to 6,870 in 2024.
• NatWest, Halifax, Lloyds and Bank of Scotland are set to close 113 additional branches before the end of November 2025.
• Customer use of digital banking rose from 33% in 2020 to 59% in 2024, reinforcing banks’ pivot away from physical branches.
• Regulators and industry are expanding alternative access, with 350 banking hubs planned by 2029 and 179 already open through the Post Office.
• Consultancy Kearney reports the UK has cut branches faster than most of Europe, trailing only Spain and the Netherlands over the past five years.